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| Iraq |
| Iraqi Soldiers Serve Country & Family |
| 2007-05-11 |
| Looking out the window of his family’s single-story house in central Iraq, the lean and slightly mustached Iraqi soldier said he was surprised to see the American Apache helicopters flying overhead during the initial invasion in April 2003. Despite being a second-year soldier in the old Iraqi army, Pvt. Najah Hassan Kathim and his fellow troops had no idea that they might be attacked. He deserted the army during the invasion. Nine weeks ago Kathim resumed his military career in the new Iraqi army, eager to fight for his country and his family. But this time he knew from the first day of basic training that he would be a part of a new brigade whose mission would be to protect the 60-mile stretch from Baghdad to Samarra. The 1,895 soldiers of the “Samarra brigade” learned together during basic training, graduated April 19, and will soon begin training with their brigade officers and noncommissioned officers before formally standing up as the 4th Brigade, 4th Iraqi Army Division in late May. |
| Posted by:Bobby |
| #2 It is critical that military people embrace the idea that the military is as much family as their blood kin, or even more. They have to break up the habit of leaving whenever you feel like it, and nonsense like that, until culturally it becomes unthinkable to desert your unit. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2007-05-11 19:09 |
| #1 "Many soldiers donÂ’t distinguish between serving in the army to support their families and serving their country." They 'get' it, even if a lot of American media types don't. Military service is not an 'either/or' thing; some do it for the monetary benefits, some for country, some for 'adventure', and most for a combination of reasons. And, as long as the psychos who just want to kill are weeded out, the reasons are all good. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2007-05-11 16:56 |