Stryker Brigade News

Help For Health Care (6 min.)

Lieutenant Colonel Walter Franz (medical doctor from Byron, MN) and a noncommissioned officer teach classes to nurses at Ibn Althyr hospital. This class is on needle-stick prevention and ways to prevent accidental spread of disease. Also, delivery of gifts and books from LTC Franz and others and the nursing staff at work. Related material in this section, b-roll and package "Presents for Patients", and full interview with LTC Franz in the "Interviews" section.

Building a Better Border (4 min.)

Soldiers from Maine National Guard unit help Iraqi borders officials keep foreign fighters and smugglers out of the country. They are building watchtowers, installing air conditioning units, and building a vehicle control point at Border Fort #8, just south of Rabiyah. Engineers unload materials, cut and nail wood, wear masks as they shovel dirt, and put up razor wire. The improvements will help Iraqi soldiers working in the border forts along the Iraq-Syrian border. Soundbites from Second Lieutenant Matthew Gill, Platoon Leader (from Scarborough, ME); Sergeant Anthony Dubois, Heavy Equipment Operator (from Auburn, ME); First Lieutenant Saeed Meerany, Iraqi Border Police. Package produced by Sergeant First Class Bryan Rotherham, 139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.

School Opening (2 min.)

Army National Guard Soldiers of the 115th Signal Battalion from Florence, Alabama participate in an elementary school opening in Ash Shaliya, Iraq. Several shots of Iraqi children and soldiers talking with Iraqi officials. Funded by the Commanders Emergency Relief Program, the soldiers completely rebuilt the school building in 8 weeks. Soundbites from First Sergeant Thomas Yeager, who gives a description of the school before the renovation and also says that he and the unit are satisfied by helping needy citizens. After a ribbon cutting, the soldiers explore the new building while mingling with the school staff.

Firefighter Demonstration (8 min.)

Local firefighting academy demonstrates the training they received over the past 14 weeks. Firefighters cut open a wrecked vehicle and remove a passenger; climb up a tall building to put out a good-sized blaze. After successful completion, they are congratulated by Army civil affairs soldiers.

Presents for Patients package (2 min.)

Package created from the b-roll "Presents for Patients". Interview with Lieutenant Colonel Walter Franz (from Byron, MN) and Sergeant Rory Tedrick. Produced by Specialist Mary Flynn, 139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment. Also see a full interview with LTC Franz in the "Interviews" section.

Soccer Friendly (1 min.)

Multinational Forces and Iraqi National Guard soldiers play a friendly, though competitive, game of soccer. Ends in 3-3 tie. Interview with American player Captain Joe Kim (from Philadelphia, PA). Package produced by Specialist Sara Roeske, 139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.

Olympia Newsline (15 min.)

Military newscast produced in Iraq by the 139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment. Includes packages on improving border security facilities (Maine National Guard), Iraqi and Multinational forces teaming up to capture suspected terroritsts and weapons, a signal battalion helping out a local school (Alabama National Guard), and efforts to recover Iraq's missing artifacts.

Interview with Captain Jenkins (5 min.)

Interview with Captain Jenkins in Mosul and WLOX in Biloxi, Mississippi. He talks about training Iraqi forces to take over the security mission in their country and says there's cooperation between Iraqis and American despite the dangers that still exist. Says Iraqis are very supportive for the most part, soldiers are very committed to what they're doing, and the overall situation in the country has improved since he's been there.

Interview with Sergeant Robledo (7 min.)

Interview (in Spanish) between Sergeant Robledo in Mosul and KWEX in San Antonio, Texas.

Interview with Sergeant Hernandez (7 min.)

Interview (in Spanish) between Sergeant Hernandez in Mosul and KWEX in San Antonio, Texas.

Interview with First Sergeant Barrera (9 min.)

Interview (in Spanish) between First Sergeant Barrera in Mosul and KWEX in San Antonio, Texas.

Interview with Specialist Aguirre (6 min.)

Interview (in Spanish) between Specialist Aguirre in Mosul and KWEX in San Antonio, Texas.

Interview with Captain Gomez (7 min.)

Interview (in Spanish) between Captain Gomez in Mosul and KWEX in San Antonio, Texas.