FORT BRAGG, N.C. -- In the capital city of Baghdad during the 1980s, a family of six brothers and one sister spent their childhood playing in the streets and parks. The following decades, however, would bring many changes to their simple lifestyle.
One of these Iraqi children, Sgt. Ali Alsaeedy, has grown up to become a sergeant and a paratrooper assigned to the 307th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. He describes his journey from his time as a young college student in Baghdad to becoming a paratrooper in America`s Guard of Honor.
Alsaeedy, the son of an officer reservist in the Iraqi Army Ministry of Defense, says Iraq was an agreeable place to grow up. "We played basketball, walked to school, all the children in the neighborhood were close," recalled Alsaeedy. "There were negatives in politics, but we believed in our father and everything was fine."
Alsaeedy dreamed of frequent traveling. "Everybody`s goal [in high school] was to travel the world, places like the U.K., U.S., and Europe," said Alsaeedy. He kept that dream with him before pursuing a degree in biochemical engineering at the University of Baghdad.
"I was in my second year of college when everything happened- the troops arrived," said Alsaeedy, referring to the arrival of U.S. forces in Iraq in 2003. "It was a year later when it seemed things began to settle down. We all were trying to educate ourselves on the matter because we believed - and still do - that the U.S. forces and allies were there to transform the country and help. We felt there was not going to be any more tyranny system or sects of families taking over the country, doing whatever they felt they wanted...so we believed in the change and welcomed it."
After graduating college, Alsaeedy tried to find employment, preferably in the engineering field. He said it was extremely difficult to find a job due to the political and cultural nature of the country, when most employers only hired within their ethnic or religious sects.
"I did not know exactly what to do or what I wanted to do, but I did know that I wanted to work for and with the service members," Alsaeedy said, referring to the U.S. forces. "It was not just about money or security, it was about being a part of something important to me."
Unable to break into the U.S. contractor market, Alsaeedy expanded his search to the private sector. In 2005, he found a position in the information technology field as a networking specialist for satellite communications.
"Then one day a man came into the shop and it changed my life forever," Alsaeedy recalled. "He enquired about an internet network to be installed on a military base in Baghdad. I took the job. After the work was complete, they were very satisfied and needed more, so they hired me full-time. My English was very fluent and I became a translator for them too."
In the following years, Alsaeedy`s experiences and connections made him a well-known and popular name among the ranking U.S. officials in Iraq.
"I saw in the Soldiers what very few of us [natives] see," said Alsaeedy. "They were trustful, pleasant, and respectful; they integrated me into their brotherhood."
"I remember the insurgency propaganda, it stated 'The Americans are here to destroy everything...'," said Alsaeedy. "But they were not, they were building. They built infrastructure for the population and barracks for the Iraqi Army. They supplied resources increasing our livelihood; creating jobs for husbands and fathers."
At the end of 2007, Alsaeedy received some life-changing news. That year, President George W. Bush signed and passed a declaration allowing vetted contractors -- who had worked for a minimum of five years for the U.S. government -- to be granted a special immigrant visa for them and their families. The visa would allow them to live and work in the United States.
To qualify for the program, however, Alsaeedy needed to work three more years as a contractor. The deteriorating security situation in his home country added urgency to his work.
"I slowly started to see things change," said Alsaeedy, following the slow withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. "The protection was decreasing and so was the structure. I knew if I stayed, my family and I were going to die soon."
In 2010, Alsaeedy met the five-year requirement, and moved with his family to United States.
They settled in Norfolk, Va., surrounded by a new country and culture. A life of war gave way to a live of peace. Alsaeedy quickly found new employment at an oil and gas company.
"I did not hurt for money, I did a lot of international travel...but I did not feel grateful," said Alsaeedy. "At this time I owed the U.S. government nothing. I fulfilled my obligation. But I felt grateful for everything they gave me in Iraq and the United States. I wanted to give them more; for my daughter, for myself and for those brothers that I became a part of overseas."
He enlisted in the Army as a combat engineer in August 2013, and attended basic training and advanced individual training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
Due to his quick learning abilities and outstanding physical fitness, the Army offered him the opportunity to attend airborne school at Fort Benning, Ga., upon graduation.
"I found out that I was going to be assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division," said Alsaeedy. "I knew it was an honor and a prestigious unit. I remember seeing the 'Double-A' patch in Iraq. And to realize that I am now one of those Paratroopers along with my Family, I was beyond excited and humbled. However, it truly did not hit me until I came to Fort Bragg and walked through the division`s museum, that`s when I realized I was a part of something special."
In 2014, Alsaeedy returned to Iraq as a member of Alpha Company, 307th BEB. "My real dream was to return to Iraq," he said. "I wanted to be an asset to the unit. I had the language, the background, and culture. I knew if I ever went back I would put myself out there to be as valuable as I could for the 307th."
In early 2015, the 3rd BCT deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. At the time, it was the newest campaign in the fight against the Islamic State. There, Paratroopers assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division provided advice and assistance to Iraqi Security Forces.
In a twist of fate, Alsaeedy's unit operated in the same neighborhood in which he spent his childhood.
Alsaeedy`s background and capabilities proved to be assets for his battalion commander, all the way up to higher ranking officials in multiple tactical operations centers around the area of the campaign.
Due to his hard work and commitment, Alsaeedy received the first battlefield promotion to noncommissioned officer during the OIR campaign. He was pinned with the rank of sergeant in fall 2015 when the unit returned to Fort Bragg.
"When I became an NCO great things began to happen for me and my family," he said. He attended the Warrior Leader`s Course soon after his promotion, learning the correspondence and technical skills he would need as an NCO.
Alsaeedy further challenged himself by attending the Fort Bragg Pre-Ranger Course, a two-week course that evaluates and prepares future candidates for the U.S. Army Ranger School at Fort Benning. He was selected for Ranger School and successfully completed the grueling 62-day course.
"I have been busy, that`s for sure," said Alsaeedy. "But I felt the more I accomplish as an NCO and a Paratrooper, the more I am giving back to the Army. I am just so grateful."
"I cannot put into words how I feel," he continued. "Landing the opportunity during the mid-2000s, to becoming a citizen, a Soldier deployed to my hometown and a Ranger. My wife and child love the installation, the people, and my daughter is receiving a great education from the schools on Fort Bragg. The Army adopted me and I am forever in debt to the most professional and perfect organization - the 82nd Airborne."
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