Update from Jim in Iraq.

“It’s month 8 here in the Rashid district of Baghdad, Iraq. The last few months have been spent developing informants and pulling alternative reconnaissance on identified IED making cell members as well as Shia intimidation special criminal gang cells. The work is long, tedious and sometimes pretty hairy. Once we gather enough information to make their dentention stick we conduct a raid called a cordon and search. And most of the time we get them. For the most part the Iraqi people are tired of the violence and want these criminals out of their neighborhoods but are in fear for their lives if they are found to be helping the coalition forces and Iraqi security forces. So, that makes it hard for us to get information, but it is being done.

I have the fortune to be operating with a great platoon of warfighters and am very proud of their patriotism and sacrifice. What little time off we have, we take the chance to go to our little gym and workout crossfit style. We also do combatives and there are a few that train with me personally in SJMS.

Only a couple of more months left in this deployment and we’ll be on the road home. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Let’s Get Training!”