Friday, 28 September 2007 By Sgt. Mike Alberts
3rd Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs

KIRKUK — The children here show no shortage of energy or imagination. On any given day, some play soccer in dirt alleys, while others noisily run among parked cars involved in an Iraqi equivalent of the game “tag-your-it.”

What the children in this northwest neighborhood lack is ready-made fun; something, somewhere nearby where they can enjoy being kids without dodging traffic. That “something” is a playground and that “somewhere” is the Tisin neighborhood of Kirkuk.

Local government officials and military leaders with the 25th Infantry Division’s 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team and the Iraqi Army’s 4th Division commemorated the grand opening of the Tisin Playground with a ceremonial ribbon cutting event, Sept. 24.

Four large swings, four slides and two large play towers mark the Tisin Playground, located in this ethnically-mixed neighborhood. The project is part of a larger approximately $30,000 park plan that will include gardens, lighted walkways and 24-hour city security, according to Capt. Jonathan Howe, personnel officer, 325th Brigade Support Battalion, 3IBCT.

The playground idea originated from an off-hand remark during a joint Iraqi security and Coalition force leadership meeting. The result is a project that addresses an immediate public need and serves as a symbol of progress and hope for the citizens of Kirkuk.

“During a meeting after a combat operation someone remarked, ‘Now the children of Kirkuk can play in the streets,’ referencing the improved security situation,” said Lt. Col. James D. Hess, battalion commander, 325th Brigade Support Battalion, 3IBCT. “In response, an Iraqi Army commander said, ‘Yes, but children shouldn’t have to play in the streets,’ referencing the shortage of [amenities] for children in the city,” Hess continued.

Hess explained that he was sitting in the back of the meeting room during the referenced exchange, but made a point to remember the remark. For Hess, this was exactly the kind of project that his unit could become involved.

“I thought, ‘O.K. Here’s something that my battalion, the brigade’s support battalion and the one without a direct combat role, can become involved to offer hope for Iraq’s future generation,” said Hess. “It’s the children (who) will lead this country out of despair; it’s the children that will carry this country beyond sectarian strife.”

Sensing the conditions for this type of project were favorable, four months later, Hess contacted the brigade’s civil affairs officer and, eventually, Capt. Justin Gorkowski and the Iraqi Army’s 4th Division got involved.

Gorkowski is the “fires and effects” officer for the brigade’s Military Transition Team (MiTT). Gorkowski works from “K1,” an Iraqi Army compound located on the outskirts of Kirkuk. He devotes his time training and mentoring the 2nd Brigade, 4th Iraqi Army’s civil affairs’ staff. According to Gorkowski, he and his Iraqi Army counterpart focus on winning the support of the local population by focusing on providing the community with core essential services, among other things.

“The playground project didn’t really fall under our traditional model, but it was still something that we thought would be very effective,” said Gorkowski. “These types of projects are critical to defeating an insurgency,” he continued. “A family will look at this as much more valuable than [security forces] coming to their home in the middle of the night and asking them if they have seen any bad guys.”

Gorkowski’s Iraqi Army counterpart agreed.

“The playground is very important,” said Maj. Zyad Junade, civil affairs officer, 2-4 IA, through an interpreter. Junade and his staff drafted the project proposal and introduced it to local government officials for approval. He also spearheaded identifying an appropriate location for the project with Kirkuk’s Director of Municipalities.

“Ultimately, it was placed in a neighborhood where the people need to see their government and the Iraqi Security Forces providing something for them long term, something essential,” said Junade. “It will have an obvious and immediate impact. It’s surrounded by houses and [is near] the largest orphanage in Kirkuk. Our goal is to provide long term incentives. [This playground] gives the young people in this troubled neighborhood hope for a better future.”

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