ACC RED HORSE Airmen become instructors to Iraqi carpenters

  • Published
  • Air Combat command Public Affairs
LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (ACCNS) --  RED HORSE units from Air Combat Command are teaching the locals of Hawr Rajab, Iraq, construction skills that will help them rebuild their war-torn community and boost their economy.

The Airmen-turned-teachers are with the 557th Expeditionary RED HORSE Squadron, headquartered at Balad Air Base, Iraq - the initiative is called "Village of Hope."

Three active-duty RED HORSE squadrons from ACC rotate into Balad at six-month intervals sustaining a 1:2 dwell time, according to Brig. Gen. Tim Byers, ACC director of installations and mission support. The lead RED HORSE unit assigned to the 557th ERHS is the 819th RHS from Malmstrom AFB, Mont. The 307th RHS at Barksdale AFB, La., 4th Civil Engineer Squadron at Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C., and other Guard and Reserve units are contributing support.

The Army is providing Soldiers to maintain security while Airmen conduct the classes.

"The Village of Hope project is a unique example of how RED HORSE Airmen have stepped out of their typical heavy construction comfort zone to provide general engineering support," said General Byers. "Airmen teaching Iraqis construction and engineering techniques is a new mission for RED HORSE professionals. Comments from our 'ambassadors of construction' are extremely positive as our Airmen adapt to their new teaching roles."

The Village of Hope team has about 30 members who conduct classes from Patrol Base Stone, a Coalition outpost in the heart of the community.

Similar to a technical school, Iraqi students are taught rebuilding skills such as masonry, electrical and plumbing. Students are paid $10 per school day they attend.

"This is happy and cool," said Hassan Alwan, the first person paid.

It was the largest payday he has had since the end of the war, he said.

The demand for construction workers is a sign that Iraqis are slowly transitioning from a role of security to stability said Lt. Col. Terry Watkins, 819th RHS commander. He said most of the students were formally providing security in their neighborhoods - but security demands have been decreasing.

"In an effort to keep these men employed in a productive manner to assist their community, the Village of Hope project was created to teach them a trade which will enable them to rebuild their community," wrote Colonel Watkins in an e-mail.

Most of the students are residents of Hawr Rajab and when they graduate from the school they will receive an increase in pay and go to work rebuilding more of the local village.

Tech. Sgt. Jacob Wilcock, a structural class instructor, said he had to adjust his mindset from pounding nails to teaching.

"As builders, we are more attuned to seeing a completed structure or physical progress at the end of a work day," said Wilcock, from Phoenix. "Teaching is very rewarding, but the reward is seeing the students understand the lesson and do well on a practical exercise."

In addition to learning the basics of building over the three-month course, students will rebuild homes damaged or destroyed by extremists. Rebuilding homes is part of the lesson plan and as an added incentive; students are paid for attending class.

"The students are very receptive, ecstatic and happy about the school," said Capt. Josh Aldred, Village of Hope project manager. "They are very grateful and fully understand we're here to help."

Local businesses will also benefit from the Village of Hope project. When classroom instruction ends and hands-on training begins, building materials available locally will be purchased from Hawr Rajab vendors.

"Many come up to say that this is the best thing that has ever happened here," Aldred said.

To ensure a steady supply of building materials, a brick and concrete block maker from Hawr Rajab was awarded a Baghdad-7 embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team (ePRT) micro-grant to help improve his business.

Airmen also gave the business owner and his employees some tips on how to make products more efficiently.

"He's been making blocks for a long time and does good work," said Air Force Master Sgt. Richard Kapp, the liaison between the Army and Air Force on the project. "We just showed him how to improve the products he puts out."

Bruce Bailey, Baghdad-7 ePRT international development adviser, said Hawr Rajab is heading in the right direction to get back on its feet. "They're near Baghdad, they have a main road going through the community and [it's] one of the last stops before you get to the farms. Hawr Rajab has great economic potential."

Airmen also see the rewards coming from their new line of work.

"I've deployed five times but I've never had the chance to help someone change their life," said Tech. Sgt. Christopher Collins, plumbing class instructor, from Fort Walton Beach, Fla. "This training will help them for the rest of their lives."

This endeavor is one General Byers has called "a success story in the making."

"It creates jobs, trains the local workforce, and gives Iraqi's the skills for future infrastructure improvements," he said.

(Editor's note: Tech. Sgt. Joel Langton and Task Force Marne Public Affairs contributed to this story.)