PRTs an Integral Part of Spirit of America Projects

At Spirit of America we recently received a thank you note from one of our funded Soldiers. It reminded us of the important ongoing job of reinstituting civil affairs and providing the framework for security and government infrastructure in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Although we have covered this type of work before in a November 2008 Email Update, it bears repeating now because there is a flurry of activity with these speciality units, especially in Iraq in the wake of their successful elections.

Civil Affairs Units and Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) are tasked with rebuilding war-torn areas and winning the hearts and minds of the locals. No easy task, but U.S. Soldiers and Marines are having an enormous impact in both countries. A great example is a recent project that Spirit of America funded with US Army Sergeants Mike Aguero and Julie Vosilus, both stationed in Iraq.

Sergeant Aguero was assigned to the PRT in Mosul, Iraq. He reported to us that most of the schools in his area were badly damaged, and that there was a complete lack of school supplies. Sergeant Aguero's mother is an elementary school counselor here in the States, and she managed to add to Spirit of America's school supply donation by implementing a school-wide drive of her own. SGT Aguero wrote to us and said:

"I personally went to one school district and watched as our Iraqi Army counterparts distributed the supplies. Lots of smiling faces! What you have done for these children goes beyond just school supplies: you have given at least 2000 children a shining example of American kindness, and a renewed faith in their government to support them."

Sergeant Julie Vosilus is attached to a Civil Affairs unit out of Belton, Missouri, but also assisted with a PRT in Kirkuk, Iraq. More specifically, Sergeant Vosilus worked with the Public Health and Education Team and on a weekly basis met with local officials to hear first hand the dire need for school supplies (especially in the rural areas). She dealt with approximately 900 primary and secondary schools in her area alone! Not only were Spirit of American donors able to help her obtain school supplies, recreational equipment, and even several wheelchairs, but she began a Vocational Training Program in the area that has already requested sewing machines to help train women on how to help themselves by building their marketable skills.

As to the attached photo, SGT Vosilus writes:

"We had the opportunity to play soccer against the Dibis policemen. Members of the Iraqi Police and Iraqi Army continue to be the top targets for insurgents, so we were able to share some of your supplies with the Dibis police. Thank you for what your organization does and for the support you provide. You fill a void which helps make our job easier and, in the end, helps saves Soldiers' lives."

Thanks to both Sergeants Aguero and Vosilus for their dedication to the Iraqi people. Thanks also to Spirit of America donors who make these sorts of project possible.

Dennis