A Soldier assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, pulls security during a ribbon cutting ceremony to reopen Checkpoint 600 and the road connecting Salman Pak and al Lej, Iraq, Feb. 29. Photo courtesy of Task Force Marne Public Affairs.

The road had been closed to civilians after a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonated at a traffic checkpoint in May, killing seven Iraqi National Policemen.

Since construction began more than two weeks ago on Combat Outpost Carver, home to Company B, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, Soldiers had been assessing the needs of locals. Their number one concern: reopen the road to Salman Pak.

Coalition leaders, along with local ISF and SoI members, began working together on a plan to restore and improve Checkpoint 600, where the attack had occurred, and set the conditions for safe movement of civilians along the road when opened.

Local leaders hope the checkpoint and road reopening will bring more people to the area.

“We have reopened the city of Salman Pak to Dura’iya, Kanasa, and al Lej – the whole Mada’in Qada can now move freely,” said Brig. Gen. Aamir, the 1st Brigade, 1st National Police commander, following the road’s ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Sheik Ali Hussein, the SoI leader for Salman Pak and al Bawi, opened his home for a luncheon attended by the more than 150 guests after the ceremony.

“We are finally to the point where we can come to an event and see Sunni and Shia sheiks working together to secure their country,” said the 1-15th Inf. Regt. Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Moore, from Waverly Hall, Ga.

Company B, 1-15th Inf. Regt. is assigned to the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, from Fort Benning, Ga., and has been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since March, 2007.