BAGHDAD — The last of nearly 2,900 members of the Sons of Iraq (SOI) and Daughters of Iraq (DOI) were officially registered with the Government of Iraq in Adhamiyah District of northern Baghdad, Sept. 20.

The SOI, and most recently, the DOI, are volunteer citizen groups similar to the Neighborhood Watch Program in the United States.  They have been instrumental in decreasing attacks and have aided Iraqi and Coalition forces with actionable intelligence.

The men and women made their way to Combat Outpost Apache in northern Baghdad to have their paperwork processed and information entered into a database to facilitate payment of their contract once the Iraqi government takes control of the program, Oct. 1.

“The security situation in Adhamiyah was very bad for five years, but with the help of the local forces and the SoI we have secured Adhamiyah,” said Iraqi Army (IA) Lt. Ihmad Nassir Hussein who serves with the 1st Battalion, 42nd Brigade, 11th Iraqi Army Division.

Prior to the program starting, Adhamiyah was rampant with insurgents and various criminal elements. Residents lived in fear, and few ventured far from their homes, if at all.

Now, with the assistance of the SOI and DOI, as well as efforts of Iraqi and Coalition forces, markets are thriving in Adhamiyah and residents enjoy the improved security and stability of this northern Baghdad District.

“The sacrifice for Adhamiyah and the IA was large for five years. We don’t want to lose all of those benefits. If we take part and they take part and become part of the Iraqi security forces, it will be a good thing for us and the people of Adhamiyah for stability and security,” Ihmad said through a translator.

This was the final day of a five-day process to register the nearly 3,000 members. In the coming months, as the Government of Iraq begins to transition away from the SoI program, the plan calls to shift up to 20 percent of the group to the Iraqi security forces.

“There will be some that will get Government of Iraq jobs, the rest, we’re going to try to transition them into civilian employment,” said 1st Lt. Robert Bone, a Yuba City, Calif., native who serves as the Iraqi security forces coordinator for 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad.

Each SoI and DoI member completed the necessary paperwork, had their identification information entered into a database and were then photographed for later identification, if needed.

“This process allows the Government of Iraq to get the information for all the SoIs to be able to put them on the payroll. Just like an enlistment in the Iraqi Army,” Bone said.

Once entered into the database, that information will be given to a GoI representative to ensure the SoI members continue to be paid monthly.

“This form is going to register them with the Government of Iraq so the government has an official record of who they are and their information to begin tracking them in the transition from SoI to other employment,” said Bone.