1st Battalion 22nd Infantry Helps Market Thrive

1st Battalion 22nd Infantry

1-22 Helps Market Thrive

MND-B Soldiers help market thrive

General takes firsthand look at microgrant program

By Capt. Jeffrey Tounge

1st Bn., 22nd Inf. Regt., 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B

Maj. Gen. Guy Swan III (right), Director of Combined Joint Operations, Multi-National Forces – Iraq,
and Capt. Drew Conover, Commander, Company A, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team,
4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, discuss the economic growth of the 84th Street Market
in Hayy Aamel of West Rashid Sep. 12.

(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Sarah Hutchinson, 1st Bn., 22nd Inf. Regt., 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B)

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq – Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team,
4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, escorted Maj. Gen. Guy C. Swan III to an economically prosperous market
in the West Rashid district of Baghdad, Sep. 12, during a battlefield circulation for the incoming Director of Combined Joint Operations,
Multi National Forces-Iraq.

The “Regulars” of 1st Bn., 22nd Inf. Regt. were proud to showcase the improvements of the 84th Street Market in Hayy Aamel
thanks to the microgrant program established by Capt. Drew Conover.

“The Aamel business plan is coming along very well,” stated Conover, commander, Co. A, 1st Bn., 22nd Inf. Regt.,
1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div. “We have distributed more than $300,000 dollars in microgrants.”

The microgrant program provides immediate assets to existing or startup business owners, helping local residents fulfill their aspirations
of owning a business or expanding their current one.

“We are hoping this will jumpstart the economy in Aamel, furthering economic growth and expansion,” said Conover, who hails from Marshall, Va.

Swan said that he was interested in the improved 84th Street Market in Hayy Aamel in West Rashid. As the new CJ3 for MNF-I,
he will be responsible for maintaining situational awareness across all operations and significant events in theater
and will promote information availability to key commanders and staff.

During this battlefield circulation, Swan gained firsthand knowledge of experiences, progress and difficulties in a particular unit’s area of responsibility.

The Regulars of 1st Bn., 22nd Inf. Regt. are proud that their success may be used as an example for other units throughout this campaign.

“Maj. Gen. Swan’s arrival and assessment of the Aamel 84th Street Market substantiated ‘Alpha’ Co.'s clear success
with their work in civil affairs projects throughout the community,” said 2nd Lt. Chris Denning, Co. A, 1st Bn., 22nd Inf. Regt., 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div.

The general’s exposure to a successful microgrant program in an urban market area provided him the opportunity
to assess concurrent and follow-on projects at the theater-level.

“The newly bustling economy of the 84th Street Market sets the standard for other units to strive for,” Denning said.

Lt. Col. Matthew Elledge (right), commander of the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team,
4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, and Maj. Gen. Guy C. Swan III, Director of Combined Joint Operations,
Multi-National Forces – Iraq, discuss the microgrant program implemented in the 84th Street Market in Hayy Aamel of West Rashid Sep. 12.

(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Sarah Hutchinson, 1st Bn., 22nd Inf. Regt., 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B)

The 84th Street Market, in Hayy Aamel of West Rashid, has received extra attention because of the current economic growth
and success in southern Baghdad, which is due in part to the microgrant program established by Soldiers of Company A,
1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad.

(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Sarah Hutchinson, 1st Bn., 22nd Inf. Regt., 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B)

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