Partnership in Iraq Provides School Supplies

American Forces Press Service

Dec. 15, 2009 - Police in Iraq's Babil province soon will distribute 2,000 backpacks filled with notebooks, coloring books, pencils and pens to the children in their province. The provincial police received the school supplies here Dec. 6 from their partners in the 3rd Infantry Division's 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team.

"These supplies will help Babil children and their families," said Wesam al-Zabayde, a television producer for the Babil provincial police. "By distributing these, we hope to show the local people that we care about them."

Maj. Muthana, the provincial police department's public affairs officer, said the backpacks will be distributed Jan. 9 as part of the celebration for the Iraqi National Police's birthday at their headquarters in Hillah.

"We will make sure that the families of our fallen policemen or those who were injured get these supplies for their children," he said.

In addition to the school supplies, the U.S. soldiers also gave the policemen pamphlets outlining the security agreement between the United States and Iraq.

"We want to encourage the Iraqi security forces we are working with to let the people they serve know how we are operating," said Army Staff Sgt. Patrick Byers of Psychological Operations Detachment 3031 out of Pittsburgh, 305 Psychological Operations Company, assigned to 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team. "We are making sure our units are staying within the agreement."

(From a Multinational Division South news release.)