VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1

T H E

REG UL AT O R

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Iraqi Armys mechanized division covers down on polls

TAJI, Iraq As Iraqs citizens made their way to polling sites across the country, Iraqi Security Forces were out in force, taking the lead in providing security for the Oct. 15 referendum. Among the show of force were more than 2,000 soldiers from the 1st Brigade, 9th Iraqi Division (Mechanized). The brigade took responsibility for 38 polling sites and two election offices where ballots are counted in the Taji area, just north of Baghdad, said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Brian Page, who heads the Military Transition Team (MiTT) assigned to the brigade. The brigade is comprised of two mechanized battalions, which use armored personnel carriers known as BMPs and MTLBs, one tank battalion, which currently utilizes Russian T-55 tanks, and a support battalion. Everything is going well, as far as I can see. People are coming out and voting. They seem excited about voting, said Iraqi Brig. Gen. Kassim, 1st Brigade commander. The polling sites appear to be organized and secure. Kassim and Iraqi Gen. Bashar, 9th Division commander, went out during the referendum to check on their troops. In addition to securing polling sites, division soldiers continued their normal duties of securing a water processing plant, two water access points and three traffic control points around Taji. Page and U.S. Army Col. John Hort, who heads the divisions MiTT, along with other MiTT members, accompanied the generals. The brigade lost eight soldiers at one of the water access points about two months ago when insurgents ambushed the site, said Page. In the town of Tarmyah, notorious for insurgent activity and anti-Coalition sentiment, the MiTTs kept their distance from the polling site while the generals went in to assess the situation. Prior to arriving at the town, Page received a report that about 800 residents were lined up at the site and the mood was festive. As Kassim and Bashar visited the site, a steady stream of residents made their way in and out of the site along a main road. By late afternoon, there were no reports of violence at the sites secured by the divisions brigade. The 1st Brigade was in its infancy for the January election, but still had a role in assisting with security. The divisions 2nd Brigade is now being formed, with one mechanized battalion recently beginning operations outside the wire. A second battalion graduated from basic training the day before the referendum; a third battalion begins basic training this month. The 2nd Brigade is expected to be operational in time for the scheduled December election, said U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Jim Herbert, of the division MiTT. By U.S. Army Sgt. Lorie Jewell MNSTC-I Public Affairs

MECH DIV COVERS DOWN ON POLLS

COMMANDERS CORNER

1,4

FEAR FACTOR IRAQI STYLE

MAKE OVER IN IRAQ

THE BAT PHONE

HEALING OLD WOUNDS

THE GOOD TIMES

COMMANDERS CORNER
Greetings family and friends of the U.S 9th Iraqi Army Advisory Team (aka: Regulators). I am sorry we havent gotten our newsletter out to you a little earlier but as you would expect we have hit the ground running with our Iraqi counterparts. Standing up a division from nothing has been a daunting task and remains our biggest challenge and priority. We are literally conducting operations with them one day and ordering furniture for their new building the next. I can tell you all Regulator advisors will come home very versatile individuals with a whole lot of flexibility and patience added to their personality. You have probably heard some the horror stories we ran through on our way to Taji. I can say our first month and a was truly tough. Through the work of some great Americans on our team though, we have managed to pull together a little villa that we call the Yellow Hooch. Guys like SSG Baker (Mr. Carpenter), SSG Pettigrew , SGM Herbert, MSG Thomas(the whip crackers), and Cpt Molina (the Scrounger) were all instrumental in standing up a building that literally had nothing in the beginning. Yours truly, LTC Turner, Maj Osbourn, Cpt Hartfield, and SSG Smith became the blue collar workers in our Extreme Makeover Iraqi home.
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FEAR FACTOR IRAQI STYLE

Picture yourself sitting at home and getting a call to be a contestant on Fear Factor. Well, we got a taste of Fear Factor, but there was no possibility of $50,000 if we completed the contest. mous meals, Pachea (pronounced Bacha). What is Pahcea you ask? Ill be glad to explain. Its goat everything edible from a goats head. Yes, that is right brain, tongue and more. The week prior we had all laughed at the fact that COL Hort , SGM Herbert and MAJ Osbourn had to eat this meal. Now we too had to indulge. Meals in Iraq are the foundation of relationships. Their culture is focused on gathering together and enjoying each others company. Even though, it was hard to swallow, the end result and the respect we gained will pay off in dealing with the Division Officers and Soldiers.

Three members of the team were randomly selected (CPT Molina, CPT Hartfield and SSG Pettigrew) to help in our relationship building by indulging in one of Iraqs fa-

MAKEOVER WELL DESERVED

Scholars say that Rome wasnt built in a day and certainly neither was the living quarters for the 9th Division MiTT team. After having to fit a ten man team in a one man room apartment space for the majority of their first month in Taji, things are finally looking up. At first sight of damaged doors, dirt covered floors, and gas station restrooms; they immediately grabbed their chemical gloves, bleach, and scrubbing powder to disaffect this future home. With the expertise of SSG Baker and SSG Pettigrew with scraped lumber they were able to build walls, tables, and an a entertainment center with virtually stone age equipment. With the team efforts we have transformed what once was a rundown medical clinic into the most rivaled living facility in this area. This is the first time in months that a dark cloud had a silver lining.

To catch the reader's attention, place an interesting sentence or quote from the story here.

THE BAT PHONE

Even with all the militarys advanced and spectacular equipment the crowded streets of Baghdad could still use a hero like the Dark Knight. With the mass deployment of U.S personnel to Iraq, families back home could use a Bat phone in times of need. Sorry no bat phone, but we do have an alternate plan. We were able to acquire a very useful phone called a Thuraya. It has the capability to call a variety of different types communications lines. This will allow families to call their soldier in cases of an emergency. The phone number is 011+8821666605240

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HEALING OLD WOUNDS

Along the streets and old buildings of Camp Taji you can see the effects of the war and the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein everywhere. Even though he has been captured his memory still remains fresh in the minds of Iraqi soldiers and the local populous. Blinded with Iraqs cultural differences and their harsh historical background; it is difficult for the newly arriving soldiers on the base. Soldiers like the 9th Div Mitt team who were sent to Taji to aid in the birth of the first Mechanized unit of the Iraqi Army and its rebuilding stage. Their mission is to not only mentor and teach their counter-parts but to strengthen the bond between the U.S and Iraq. Your U.S soldiers have worked hard and endless hours trying to break down the walls of corruption and build the walls of confidence. Iraqi Military schools are now in the process of being standardized and will surely develop and strengthen this new fighting force. 9th Division Mitt soldiers have also aided in this process by preparing and giving out care packs containing personal hygiene products for the basic training soldiers. This is just one example of the kindness that has been shown to the Iraqi soldiers but there has been many more unmentioned and more will surely follow. We the 9th Division Team Thank you for your support and ask that you continue as they walk these rigid steps in the right direction, and once again Thanks.

THE GOOD TIMES

THE GOOD TIMES

I told you not to let JoJo drive

Hell no, we wont go!!!

Stay back this is a contaminated area

New terminators sent back in time to Iraq.

Your serious were really in Iraq

JoJo (Iraqs Jeff Gordon) hit the wall

Its all fun and games until someone brakes an antenna

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COMMANDERS CORNER CONT.

In the end, we have a little yellow and white Iraqi building that we are proud of with enough creature comforts to give us just a little taste of home. Our main focus as you would hope is to get the Iraqi Army back on its feet so it can handle its own security and protection of its citizens. The 9th Iraqi Mech Division is one tenth of this puzzle with nine other Iraqi Army divisions located elsewhere in Iraq. We are the last division to form because of the complexity, cost, and supply issues in standing up a mechanized (tank/track vehicles) division. Currently we are 1/3 of the way there with one of their brigades already out in the field working with a US brigade. The next brigade we are close to completing, and one more to go after that. God Bless all of you for your thoughts and prayers and the great care packages - true morale boosters! Have a great Thanksgiving with thanks from all of us here in Iraq on your continued support to the troops. From fielding their equipment, training, to walking side by side with them on missions the Regulator Advisory Team is with this unit every step of the way. Individuals like Cpt Matt Hartfield who personally solved 2,000 Iraqi soldiers pay problem to SGM Herbert who provides over watch for the Colonel when he is checking an Iraqi checkpoint they are all doing heroic work on this team. I am proud of all of them and know when we finish this deployment we will have made a difference in turning this country around God Bless all of you for your thoughts and prayers and the great care packages - true morale boosters! Have a great Thanksgiving with thanks from all of us here in Iraq on your continued support to the troops. Col John Hort Regulator Six 9th Advisory Team