Soldiers Assist In Restoration And Restart Of Historic Iraq Facility
Camp Striker, Iraq
There were more than a dozen different representatives from around the region consisting of local Iraqi Leaders that toured the Iskandariyah Vocation School on Thursday. Representatives from Mahmudiyah Qada Council were given a tour by School officials, and assisted by members of the ePRT reconstruction team from the 101st Airborne that has helped restart the school.
The school was first established in 1972, but fell into disrepair during the recent War on Terror. It was recently restarted with Coalition aid and funds, and there is currently about 500 students enrolled. The facility offers 22 programs including computer skills, generator and air conditioning repair, welding, sewing, and electrical engineering skills.
“The ultimate goal of the school is to prepare citizens for jobs and employment,” said Lieutenant Colonel Robert Boinski, deputy Team Leader for the ePRT team. “This means sustainable, consistent employment, not just part time work. This school recruits and trains citizens for full time jobs that pay full time wages,” said Colonel Boinski.
Representatives from the Mahmudiyah Qada Council were joined by nine senior area Iraqi sheiks, and also members of the Yusufiyah Nahia council. It was a trip that was well received; several of the Iraqi leaders seemed impressed.
“Long term we will be working with the Iraqi Government to help create a demand for trained employees, and also to create schools like this to provide for the increased demand,” said Colonel Boinski.
