Tikrit Baghdad Iraq Elections Security Forces

Tikrit’s ISF Participate in Free Iraqi Elections

Tikrit, Iraq -- One of the most impressive election-related events occurred the day before voting began for the rest of the Iraqis carving a piece of their own history.

The Soldiers of Tikrit’s 201st Iraqi Army Battalion, Iraqi National Police and the Emergency Services Unit lined up at polling sites throughout the day to cast their vote in Iraqis first free election in decades, many for the first time in their lives.

elections 1

The Iraqi Security Forces have spent the last few months preparing for the elections, rehearsing possible situations, training on their assigned weapons and conducting individual and collective training with their Task Force Danger counterparts from Task Force 1-18 Infantry.

They set the example for the rest of the area so that the polls were safe for elections and that the people of Tikrit would not yield to the empty threats of the insurgent to stay away from the polls.

elections 2

elections 3

The example the Tikrit ISF set for the people of Tikrit and their vigilance throughout the elections allowed for successful elections to be conducted without any incidents of attacks on polling sites, voters or election officials.

The elections are the culmination of Task Force 1-18 Infantry’s efforts to train, equip and inspire confidence in their Iraqi Security Forces counterparts. The message from the elections in Tikrit is clear; the people of Tikrit understand that freedom is too important to be left in the hands of terrorists.

elections 4

One Tikrit resident expressed the importance of this event by saying “being able to give my opinion on how my country should be governed is an opportunity that no one in my family has ever had, this is a great day.” (Story by Capt. Michael Prudhomme, Task Force 1-18 Infantry) Release #050131e

مواطن عراقي وهو يستعرض الحبر حول أصبعه متاكدا من أن هويته الشخصية مخفية عن الأنظار. الحبر كان على أصابع المصوتين العراقيين ليؤشر بأن على كل مواطن عراقي أن يصوت مرة واحدة أثناء الأنتخابات التي جرت يوم 30 كانون الثاني 2005. الصورة ماتقطة من قبل رئيس عرفاء ديف الشويد 050130-ف-1631ا-029 . نشرت.

مواطنين عراقيين وهم يقفون في طابور الأقتراع في بغداد، العراق يوم 30 كانون الثاني 2005 . صورة القوة الجوية الأمريكية ألتقطت من قبل رئيس عرفاء ديف الشويد 050130-ف-1631ا-008 . نشرت

Bill To Enhance Military Death Benefits

Senator Sessions Introduces Bill To Enhance Military Death Benefits HEROES Act of 2005 FULL TEXT

WASHINGTON — Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) today introduced legislation that would greatly expand death benefits for America’s military personnel and their families.

Sessions’ bill, which he co-sponsored with Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT), would raise the death gratuity to $100,000 from $12,420 for military personnel killed in combat. The death gratuity would be retroactive to cover those killed while deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

Sessions’ bill, called the HEROES Act of 2005 (Honoring Every Requirement Of Exemplary Service), would increase the Servicemen’s Group Life Insurance (SGLI) maximum benefit to $400,000 from $250,000. Under the proposal, the military would provide $150,000 of insurance for service members serving in a combat zone and electing coverage under SGLI. A second provision would require the service member to discuss opting out with a spouse or other beneficiary as is done with the Survivor Benefit Program.

The bill would index the death gratuity to the rate of annual pay raises and index the life insurance benefit to the annual pay raise. The Defense Department estimated the cost of Sessions’ bill at about $460 million the first year, though that figure would be expected to drop in future years by more than half once retroactive benefits are paid.

Sessions, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Airland Subcommittee, last year got a provision included in the Fiscal Year 2005 defense authorization bill directing the Defense Department to study the death benefits issue and offer a plan for enhanced benefits in President Bush’s budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2006. Bush will submit his budget to Congress early next month.

Press Release of Senator Sessions Contact: Monday, January 24, 2005