Independence Gazette - Military News Network

Above: Journalists with Iraqi news outlets were updated May 12 on the work of the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team during apress conference held at the Freedom Rest center in Baghdad’s International Zone. Below: Col. Marc Ferraro (center), 56th SBCTcommander; Linda Specht (right) leader of embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team-5 and Capt. Cory Angell (left), 56th SBCTpublic affairs officer, listen to a question from an Iraqi journalistCommander formally meets Iraqi mediaSgt. DOUG ROLES56 SBCT PAO NCOCol. Marc Ferraro, commander of the 56thStryker Brigade Combat Team, told Iraqi journalistsTuesday that his Pennsylvania ArmyNational Guard Soldiers, working alongsideIraqi Security Forces, have improved securityin the Taji and Tarmiyah regions, northof Baghdad. Ferraro and an embedded ProvincialReconstruction Team leader alsodiscussed ongoing efforts to improve localinfrastructure during a press conference andluncheon held at the Freedom Rest center inthe International Zone, Baghdad, May 12.Over 30 Iraqi journalists, from media outletsbased in Baghdad, attended the event. Aftermaking their opening statements, Ferraroand Linda Specht, the PRT leader, answeredquestions on topics ranging from security tofreedom of the press to irrigation.“Security does remain our number onepriority within the qadas [regions],” Ferrarosaid. “We continue to conduct combined patrolswith the Iraqi Army and the Iraqi Policethroughout the qadas. We feel we have disruptedthe enemy’s ability to conduct operations.”Ferraro said the implementation of the newStatus of Forces Agreement will have littleimpact on the work of the 56th SBCT becauseit operates in a mostly rural area of Iraq. Ferrarosaid implementation of the SOFA, whichdirects Coalition Forces to withdraw fromcities by June 30, will not cause the brigadeto reposition its forces.Ferraro and Specht reported that the brigade,working with local Iraqi leaders, has 39 ongoingcivil affairs projects. Another 50 projectshave been proposed, they reported.Specht, a career State Department employeeand foreign service officer, explained the roleof the local ePRT.“We work on helping the Iraqi governmentand the Iraqi people to help themselves improvethe standard of living within the Tarmiyahand Taji qadas,” she said. “We’re an extension,down to the grassroots level, of theU.S. Embassy in Iraq.”One journalist asked about what he said is“desertification” of one area along the TigrisRiver near Taji. Ferraro and Specht said increasingirrigation is a goal of civil affairsteams.The May opening of a refurbished pumpingstation at Sa’ab al Bour will provide 20percent more water to residents there, Ferraroand Specht reported.One journalist asked Ferraro if Iraqi Soldiersand police officers are ready to takeover when Coalition Forces pull out. Ferrarosaid much progress has beenmade and reminded reporters that“Four years ago there wasn’t anIraqi Army.”He said the Iraqi Army Soldiershis Soldiers work with are proficientdown to the platoon leveland are able to conduct patrols ontheir own. However, he said IraqiSecurity Forces in the 56th’s areastill have need of reconnaissanceand intelligence gathering assets.Ferraro pointed out that the 56thSBCT operates a combined informationcenter to better enable brigadeSoldiers to conduct missionsjointly with the ISF.Capt. Cory Angell, public affairs officer forthe 56th SBCT, said meeting the media wasan important mission for the brigade as wellas an opportunity for journalists.“It’s important for us to interact with theIraqi media, to tell them about the work we’vebeen doing with the ISF,” Angell said. “Anevent like this helps develop their informationgathering agencies, so they can developas the nation does.”Ferraro concluded the press conference bytelling the journalists there’s “one mission”for Coalition Forces, Iraqi Security Forcesand the people of Iraq – to better the qualityof life for all Iraqis.Ferraro extended an invitation for journaliststo embed with units of his brigade so theycan witness firsthand the day-to-day work ofhis Soldiers and the Iraqi Security Forces.“Anyone of you is welcome,” he said.“Come on up and see what we’re doing.”Page 2 Independence Gazette May 2009