Black Dragons provide security during school construction assessment

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ, Iraq - Soldiers assigned to the 5th Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery, 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, conducted a combined patrol with members of the 3rd Federal Police Division to provide security for a project assessment team, here, Nov. 1.

Local contractors from Ninewa Province are currently working on the al-Furat Primary School for Boys construction project; intended for completion in four to six months.

"I'm here to provide a secondary inventory check," said Mr. Trey Cashman, a project manager with the U.S. Army Corps. of Engineering, from Anchorage, Alaska. "I want to make sure that they are following all the rules and remaining safe while checking on the quality of the work."

U.S. Soldiers secured the area along with Iraqi policeman while Cashman assessed the new school-just bricks away from completion.

"This is one of the biggest things we have going right now," Cashman said. "Children in the area can go to school and get a proper education, keeping them off the streets and away from the bad guys."

The Iraqi funded project allows U.S. Soldiers to work with their counterparts to help in the development of the area.

"Our mission is to enable our Iraqi counterparts to take the lead in rebuilding their country," said Sgt. 1st Class Eric Pinkett. "Rebuilding this school is one step closer to the process of giving them confidence in doing things for their country," said the Williamston, N.C. native.

Once completed, the school will not only give Iraqi boys an education, it will give them hope for the future.

"This shows the progress we've made," said Pfc. Gabriel Moya. "U.S. (Soldiers and civilians) helping to rebuild a school for Iraqi kids shows a lot about our character; we're willing to help them to make Iraq an overall better place," said Moya, from Fresno, Calif.