AR RUMAIYTHA — Various U.S. units recently joined forces here to deliver 80 hearing aids and much needed supplies to girls at the Amal School for the Deaf. This 2-room school house and primary education facility to over 40 girls was identified by the Muthanna PRT in 2008 as a facility greatly in need of support and resources.
The school has a dedicated staff of 6 teachers and educates children from elementary school through high school--each with varying degrees of deafness. Albert Hadi, the media advisor for the Muthanna PRT, credits the former Public Diplomacy Officer for the Muthanna PRT, Aaron Snipe, with identifying the school and initiating the project. "Aaron thought to reach out to somewhere no one's ever been before -- no Iraqis or other agencies," Hadi said.
Since the identification of the school, the Muthanna PRT has partnered primarily with the 287th Sust Bde and ISF to render assistance to the school. "Without any one of them the mission would not be possible," said Maj. Sean McGann, the EO and civil military officer-in-charge for the 2nd Bn, 162nd Inf Regt, who provided security for the mission.
The Sept. 14 mission came just in the nick of time for Lt. Col. Clinton Moyer, the civil military officer for the 287th Sust Bde. With his unit set to redeploy within the week, this mission was the culmination of a deployment's worth of relationship building and hard work. "It's been a long process and it took us 10 months to deliver," Moyer said. "We try not to promise anything, but this was something we said we would do and wanted to do."
An audiometer, small generator, and 2 flat screen TVs were donated in addition to the 80 hearing aids. The children also eagerly accepted toys and candy provided by the 41st IBCT. "It was a great opportunity for the U.S. military and the PRT civilians to work together with the local Iraqis to effect some real change at a very tangible, grassroots level with a population that is really important—the children of this prov.," said John Kuschner, the team leader for the Muthanna PRT.
Lt. Col. Richard Allan White, an audiologist for the 287th SB, was a key contributor to the mission's success. In his 10 months working with Amal and the Muthanna PRT, White has educated Amal teachers on the use of an audiometer, and conducted numerous audiometer tests to identify children who would benefit from the use of the donated hearing aids.
When asked about donating the hearing aids directly to the school versus to the children themselves, Hadi explained, "We support education. When we donate to the school, this will stimulate the Iraqis and encourage them to send their kids to the school."
