1st Battalion 22nd Infantry Helps SoI transition to ISF

West Rashid Sons of Iraq Transition to ISF Control/SoIs in Jihad,
Aamel Complete Transition to Government of Iraq Accountability

By Capt. Jeffrey Tounge
1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq — The Abna al-Iraq, or Sons of Iraq, a program involving
concerned local citizens providing security for their neighborhoods and communities, have been commended for their service
and assistance working with Iraqi security forces in the past. Now, they are receiving attention for a different reason.

The West Rashid Sons of Iraq, a Multi-National Division – Baghdad funded program established more than a year ago,
have been successfully transferred to the oversight of Iraqi security forces, Sept. 18, 2008.

After a hard four days' work at joint security stations and combat outposts in Hayys Jihad,
Aamel and Bayaa, the Sons of Iraq were successfully transferred to Iraqi security
forces' control, Sept. 18, 2008. The Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment,
1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad,
worked diligently with Iraqi army soldiers from the 1st Bn., 53rd Bde.,
14th Iraqi Army Div. to ensure all Sons of Iraq were accounted for
and properly transitioned.
Location: FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, IQ

Photographer: Staff Sgt. Brent Williams
1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs

The “Regulars” Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division,
Multi-National Division – Baghdad, who assisted in the process, were proud of the approximately 1,500 hundred SoIs who showed up
in the Jihad and Aamel communities of the Rashid District in southern Baghdad to register as official Government of Iraq security elements.

“The Iraqi army leadership did a tremendous amount of work to systematically enroll the Sons of Iraq from Jihad,” stated 1st Lt. Casey Staker,
Company E, 1st Bn., 22nd Inf. Regt., 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div. “The Iraqi army and national police in our area are taking the lead
on security and are showing their capabilities daily.” The Sons of Iraq have had difficulty integrating with the ISF in the past,
but the recent transition is an indicator that all tenants of security are united and capable of working together, he explained.

After a four-day administrative process, the SoI were officially enrolled as employees of the Government of Iraq.
The in-processing was conducted by the 2nd Battalion, 5th Brigade, 2nd National Police Division, and the 1st Battalion, 53rd Brigade,
14th Iraqi Army Division, operating from joint security stations in western Rashid.

The intent of the transfer operations was to adjust oversight of all SoI to the Iraqi security forces
and consolidate all security forces under the Iraqi government’s control.

An Iraqi army soldier from the 1st Battalion, 53rd Battalion, 14th Iraqi Army Division
takes accountability of the Sons of Iraq at a combat outpost belonging to Soldiers
of the 1st Bn., 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div.,
Multi-National Division - Baghdad in the Rashid District of southern Baghdad,
Sept. 17, 2008. This process was part of a four-day enrollment program
to ensure all Sons of Iraq in southern Baghdad are successfully transferred
to the control of Iraqi security forces.
Location: FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, IQ

Photographer: Staff Sgt. Brent Williams
1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs

Sheik Jabar Abedalnabi Jabar, SoI manager of a muhallahs in Hayy Jihad, arrived at a joint security station with a smile
and an optimistic approach to the long day’s work of transitioning his employees to ISF control.
“I am proud to be here and to help make this a successful operation,” stated Jabar, who worked closely with 1st Lt. Kader
of the 1st Bn., 53rd Bde., 14th IA Div., during the transition. Kader was responsible for checking all paperwork
and identification to ensure all SoI were accounted for and properly transitioned. At the day’s end,
Sheik Jabar and Kader shook hands and parted ways.

The next day would open a new chapter in the SoI program, a chapter that involved Iraqi security forces,
the Government of Iraq, and further progress in security.