Former Sons of Iraq assume new role in their country's future

By Sgt. Joshua Risner, MND-B PAOJuly 10, 2009

BAGHDAD - 1st Lt. Justin Casey, from Ogdensburg, N.Y., assigned to the Joint Projects Management Office, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, meets with representatives from the Ministry of Electricity at a graduation ceremony in the Nasir...
1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – BAGHDAD - 1st Lt. Justin Casey, from Ogdensburg, N.Y., assigned to the Joint Projects Management Office, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, meets with representatives from the Ministry of Electricity at a graduation ceremony in the Nasir... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
BAGHDAD - A former Son of Iraq receives his diploma for completing the electrical line refurbishment course during a graduation ceremony in the Nasir Wa Salam area here, June 25. The program is designed to give former Sons of Iraq the opportunity to ...
2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – BAGHDAD - A former Son of Iraq receives his diploma for completing the electrical line refurbishment course during a graduation ceremony in the Nasir Wa Salam area here, June 25. The program is designed to give former Sons of Iraq the opportunity to ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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BAGHDAD - The diploma that a former Son of Iraq holds signifies the completion of the electrical line refurbishment course in the Nasir Wa Salam district here, June 25. Thirty students, all former Sons of Iraq, graduated the course and will now be an...
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – BAGHDAD - The diploma that a former Son of Iraq holds signifies the completion of the electrical line refurbishment course in the Nasir Wa Salam district here, June 25. Thirty students, all former Sons of Iraq, graduated the course and will now be an... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
BAGHDAD - A newly certified electrical line refurbishment team member receives his pay in the Nasir Wa Salam district here, June 25. Though the students of the course recently graduated, they have been performing their duties as electrical repairmen ...
5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – BAGHDAD - A newly certified electrical line refurbishment team member receives his pay in the Nasir Wa Salam district here, June 25. Though the students of the course recently graduated, they have been performing their duties as electrical repairmen ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

BAGHDAD - Coalition forces, in coordination with the Ministry of Electricity, are giving former Sons of Iraq the opportunity to find employment outside of manning checkpoints.

In implementation of this plan, thirty students graduated from an electrical line refurbishment course in the Nasir Wa Salam district here, June 25.

Though the students recently graduated the six-month program, they have been working in the area for quite some time, already providing the services they have been training for, according to 1st Lt. Justin Casey, from Ogdensburg, N.Y., assigned to the Joint Projects Management Office, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division.

"The program provides a system in place to improve the electricity of the Nasir Wa Salam area," said Casey. "Residents can call a hotline to notify the Ministry of Electricity of any electrical problems and these guys go out and fix it."

Locals already use the services provided by the electrical line refurbishment team, either calling in or showing up personally to inform the team of problems they are having. The team then goes out to inspect and fix it. "They have two hotlines running that people can call," Casey said. "They are available all day, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m."

The program is funded by Coalition forces, but everything else is taken care of by the Iraqis, according to Casey. "We're the middleman," he said. "We fund it and provide the equipment but the Ministry of Electricity provides everything else."

The team received tool belts and a number of vehicles from Coalition forces to carry out their duties.

It is the intent now that the students have graduated the course and are now certified in their field, that the Ministry of Electricity will hire them full time, Casey added.

With programs such as the electrical line refurbishment course, former Sons of Iraq will transition into new jobs that will assist the Government of Iraq and their neighborhood with getting the country to a state of normalcy that will no longer require the aid of the Coalition forces.