By Sgt. Mike Pryor
2nd BCT, 82nd Abn. Div. Public Affairs
BAGHDAD - The students in Shala Mikla’s class were supposed to be learning about biology. Instead, they got a lesson in cooperation.
That was what was on display when U.S. Soldiers and Iraqi National Police officers visited Mikla’s classroom at the Al-Andalus Girl’s School in Baghdad’s Sadr City neighborhood to view recently completed renovations at the school Oct. 31.
The renovations were part of a joint effort by the Ministry of Education, the local neighborhood councils, school officials, the Iraqi National Police and the 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, which operates in the Sadr City area of eastern Baghdad as part of the 82nd Airborne Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team.
The students got to see that partnership in action as the Soldiers and police officers, led by Iraqi Brig. Gen. Ali Ibrahim Daboun, commander of the 8th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi National Police Division, and Lt. Col. Dan Barnett, commander of the 1-2 SCR, went from classroom to classroom to talk with the children and hand out free backpacks.
“Gen. Ali is a great partner. We have a very strong relationship”, said Barnett, a Willard, Ohio native.
That relationship has helped the national police and the 1-2 SCR, whose home station is Vilseck, Germany, complete a project to improve nine schools in the Sadr City area.
At the Al-Andalus school, the renovations included a new roof, a new gate, repairs to cracks in the pavement and stairs, and a paint-job, said Glen Allen, Va., native Capt. Alex Carter, a civil affairs team chief who helped oversee the project. All told, contractors put $200,000 worth of work into fixing up the school, Carter said.
The students in Mikla’s class showed their appreciation by giving Barnett a big “Thank you!” in English when he stopped by the classroom.
“We are very grateful”, Mikla said. “For the children, every little bit helps.”
Iraqi Brig. Gen. Ali Ibrahim Daboun (with scissors), commander of the 8th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi National Police Division, cuts a ceremonial ribbon marking the grand re-opening of the Al-Andalus Girl’s School outside Sadr City, which recently received $200,000 worth of renovations sponsored by the Iraqi Government, the national police and Coalition Forces. Iraqi National Police officers and Soldiers from the 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, visited the school Oct. 31 to view the improvements and hand out backpacks to the students. (U.S. Army photos by Sgt. Mike Pryor, 2nd BCT, 82nd Airborne Division Public Affairs)
Willard, Ohio native Lt. Col. Dan Barnett (foreground), commander of the 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, 2nd BCT, 82nd Airborne Division, and Brig. Gen. Ali Ibrahim Daboun (background), commander of the 8th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi National Police Division hand out backpacks to students at the Al Andalus Girl’s School in Baghdad’s Sadr City neighborhood during an Oct. 31 visit to the school to see improvements made during a recent renovation effort sponsored by the Iraqi Government, the INP, and the U.S. military.
Willard, Ohio native Lt. Col. Dan Barnett, commander of the 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, shows off a big smile after handing out backpacks to students at the Al Andalus Girl’s School in Baghdad’s Sadr City neighborhood. Barnett visited the school Oct. 31 to see improvements made during a recent renovation effort sponsored by the Iraqi government, the Iraqi National Police and the U.S. military.
Willard, Ohio native Lt. Col. Dan Barnett (left), commander of the 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, and Iraqi Brig. Gen. Ali Ibrahim Daboun (right), commander of the 8th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi National Police Division, are interviewed together by an Iraqi television station during a visit to the Al Andalus Girl’s School in Baghdad’s Sadr City neighborhood to see improvements made during a recent renovation effort sponsored by the Iraqi government, the Iraqi National Police and the U.S. military.
Students at the Al Andalus Girl’s School in Baghdad’s Sadr City neighborhood smile for the cameras during an Oct. 31 visit by Iraqi National Police and U.S. troops to see improvements made during a recent renovation effort sponsored by the Iraqi government, the Iraqi National Police and Coalition Forces.
