Airmen give supplies to Iraqi school

KIRKUK, Iraq (AFPN) -- The children laughed and smiled as Master Sgt. Robert Frank distributed educational supplies at Al Ilaf school here.

Frank smiled, too. But his trip to Iraq had a very serious intent -- help give the Iraqis a solid foundation on which to build their free and independent future.

“One of these kids, either (of) the ones we help today or others down the line, will be running this country some day,” he said. “I would like them to be as well educated as possible to ensure a successful government in the country of Iraq.”

As the first sergeant of the 380th Expeditionary Mission Support Group, Frank said he understands the importance of helping people have the tools they need to do well.

“What good would all that has happened over the last several months be if we did not make things better than before and set these folks up for success?” Frank said.

That desire to make things better for the Iraqi people became reality through voluntary donations from airmen serving in the region. People from the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing at a forward-deployed air base, funded the $5,000 of supplies donated for this trip.

The team provided the 200 children at the schools with new backpacks filled with pencils, pens, Arabic-format notebooks and other school supplies. Teachers received a bag filled with more educational supplies.

This initiative, called “Win the Peace” at the 380th, is one of many formal and informal programs to help rebuild the country’s schools, ravaged by years of neglect by the former regime.

“We want to build on what we have started here. There are a lot of people in America who want to help but don’t have a mechanism to do so,” said Col. Steven Johnson, 380th EMSG commander.

Working in conjunction with soldiers from the Army’s 404th Civil Affairs Battalion and airmen from the 506th Air Expeditionary Group at nearby Kirkuk Air Base, the team from the 380th is working to establish a connection between schools in Iraq and schools in America.

“More than ever, I’m convinced this kind of action is necessary to bring lasting peace to this region,” Johnson said.