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UAF Students in Iraq

Reports from Iraq

AUDIO SLIDE SHOW

A full day of Stryker missions

Soldiers from the 1/25 Stryker Brigade meet with Buhriz Iraqi Police station, visit the once-abandoned village of Al-Jeyafra and make humanitarian aid drops to three other villages.

To a US soldier in Iraq, a bit of green speaks of home

Staff Sgt. Kevin Smith, of the 1-24th Infantry Regiment, finds satisfaction tending the lawn outside FOB Grizzily HQ, in Iraq's Diyala Province. Smith, a 30-year-old former landscaper from Toronto, Ontario, recently demonstrated mastery of more traditional solderly skills, placing first in the 1-25th Stryker Brigade Combat Team's all-around warrior contest. Smith subsequently placed second in a division competition among top warriors from four brigades.

Grass sprouting in the courtyard of a small military base north of Baghdad is rooted in home-front struggles larger than the war for an Alaska-based soldier.

More reports from Iraq

Sheik blames outsiders for rocket attack

The Sheik of Shaki River guides Iraqi soldiers looking for weapons hidden in his community's palm groves following the discovery of crude rail launchers in the area. The launchers were used in an unsuccessful attack upon American forces at FOB Warhorse, headquarters of the 1-25th Stryker Brigade Combat Team in Diyala Province, Iraq.

FOB NORMANDY-Capt. Chris Hassan, of the 3-23rd Infantry Regiment, and Second Platoon, Charlie Company, had a different mission scheduled with their Iraqi Army partners. Plans changed in the wake of an unsuccessful rocket attack against American forces the previous night.

Help requires hard sell

Lt. Col. James DeMoss, commander of the 3-21st Infantry Regiment, pitches the usefulness of American police training to Iraqi Police Col. Sa'ad Issa Ibrahim Al Aslam, chief of the Wajihiyah district near Muqdadiyah, Diyala Province. DeMoss left the district station with a deal to begin classes before his soldiers return to Alaska along with other units of the 1-25th Stryker Brigade Combat Team.

FOB NORMANDY, Iraq- Exiting the Wajihiyah district police station, Lt. Col. Jim DeMoss, commander of 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry, called a quick team huddle in the courtyard.

Video: Training with DET Cord

Aerial assault at dawn

Outfitted with metal detectors, soldiers from the Iraqi Army and First Platoon, Bravo Company, 1-24th Infantry Regiment, 1-25th Stryker Brigade Combat Team prepare to search for weapons near the Udaim River in Diyala Provience, Iraq. Monday's patrol, staged out of FOB Grizzly, came up empty handed.

FOB GRIZZLY, Iraq—The Chinook jostled from side to side, suggesting turbulence rather than touchdown at the LZ. Hugging their guns, Iraqis and Americans streamed toward the big helicopter's gaping rear hatch.

Video: Searching for weapons caches

Transferring law enforcement duties presents challenges

American consultant Ted Hendricks of Military Professional Resources discusses Iraqi police station needs with Iraqi Police Maj. Bassem Ebruhem. The visit took place as part of a broader humanitarian aid delivery mission by the 2nd Btn., 8th Field Artillery Rgt. in Iraq's Diyala Province.

Any detective ought to appreciate the Iraqi policeman's dilemma. Turf battles between local police and the Iraqi Army, the IP and IA, respectively, pose continuing concern for Americans working to hand off responsibilities to Iraqis.

Facing Iraqi detainees

BAQUBAH, Iraq -- The air is hot and thick in the high-ceilinged room as the man shuffles forward. Sitting at a desk in front of him is a gray-suited official with a folder, who glares and starts asking questions.

Send out the drones

The Shadow 200 unmanned aerial vehicle, wheeled out for launch by Spc. Philip Plemons, provides the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry, with real-time intelligence about ground threats and battlefield developments.

FOB WARHORSE, Iraq -- The lawnmower-like buzzing grows louder, and after a few seconds the silhouette of a small plane takes shape in the 115-degree haze.

Strykers take students on search for explosives

A member of the Stryker brigade walks past a noticeably lush section of green lawn among the dusty streets.

FOB WARHORSE, Iraq— Capt. Richie Santiago interrupts First Platoon's movement through a palm grove and greets the imam of Saysabani.

Video: Explosion clearing exercise

UAF students in Iraq

UAF quartet embeds in Iraq

Three University of Alaska Fairbanks journalism students and their professor are embedding for the month of August with soldiers of the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, based at Fort Wainwright. It is the first time a university journalism program has taken students into the Iraqi combat and was the idea of university president Mark Hamilton, a retired Army general. The students are Jennifer Canfield, 25, from Anchorage; Tom Hewitt, 26, of Fairbanks; and Jessica Hoffman, 28, of Delta Junction. The professor is Brian O’Donoghue. Read the Daily News story about their assignment.

Students' blog from Iraq

Short Timers

UAF students Jennifer Canfield, Tom Hewitt, and Jessica Hoffman, and their professor, Brian O’Donoghue, are sharing the experience on their blog, "Short Timers."

Short Timers Facebook page

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