BAHGDAD - Four Iraqi detainees were transported to Forward Operating Base Falcon in southern Baghdad July 28, to be reintegrated into their communities.
This was the first reintegration ceremony of the 150th Armored Reconnaissance Squadron, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, since their arrival in Iraq last April. The squadron worked with local sheiks, Iraqi Security Forces and the Government of Iraq throughout the reintegration process.
Two of the reintegrated men were detained Jun. 7, 2007, in what is now the squadron's area of operations, whereas the other two, who are brothers from the al-Qarghuli tribe, were detained Feb. 2, 2008.
The four men were escorted to a small office on the Iraqi Army side of the compound to meet with two Iraqi government officials from the al-Qarghuli tribe and the commander of 2nd Company, 23rd Brigade, 17th Division Iraqi Army.
"We did a lot of pre-planning with the Iraqi Army and government officials to bring in individuals to vouch for the detainees," said B Troop's 1st Lt. Nathaniel Sapp, of Pittsburg. "Making sure we had the correct information on the individuals and updating our system, listing them as released on our current watch list."
The officials told the detainees to take advantage of this opportunity and stay on the right track before they signed for their reintegration. The guarantor and the detainee signed a good citizenship pledge document written in English and Arabic.
If there is a lack of evidence or statements on file, a detainee can be reintegrated by the signature of a guarantor; a tribal sheik, family member, businessman, or respected member of the community, who accepts responsibility for the detainee. In most cases the guarantor is usually a tribal sheik.
"This is a fairly new thing we are doing," said Campbell. "[Multi-National] Division [Baghdad] sends us a list of detainees categorized by threat. Generally red category releases usually have evidence for detainment under the Iraqi judicial system."
The detainees are categorized by color-coded threat levels; green, amber and red. Green is the least serious threat for renewed violence and red is the greatest threat.
"These guys are low on the totem pole and don't present a great threat," said Sapp.
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