Iraqi Police Maj. Mohammed, executive officer for the Fallujah IPs, pinpoints the location of a local school in need of supplies to Marines with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, here Oct. 17. The mission to provide the school and students with backpacks, supplies and shirts was coordinated by the IPs. Coalition Forces are keeping as hands-off as possible while training the IPs in the finer points of community involvement with an eye toward future independent operations.

Photo by 1stLt. Barry L. Edwards

Iraqi Police deliver supplies to Fallujah school

19 Oct 2007 | Regimental Combat Team 6 Public Affairs 2nd Marine Division

FALLUJAH, Iraq --

Fallujah Iraqi Police delivered school supplies, backpacks and clothing to a city elementary school, Oct. 17, while Marines with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6 looked on.

The supply drop highlighted the focus of IPs’ mission in the city. As Fallujah has become a more peaceful place, the “sons of Fallujah” have been freer to attend to civic-minded matters, said Maj. Mohammed, executive officer for the Fallujah IP.

“The families and students are suffering,” said Mohammed through a translator. “This stuff supports them. They are happy and feel much better than before.”

The IPs and civil affairs Marines with RCT-6 are conducting several such school supply drops in accordance with the beginning of Ramadan. Ramadan is a monthlong period of daily fasting from sunrise to sunset, and its end is the rough equivalent to the end of the summer break American students are familiar with.