Band of sisters plays key role in security

U.S. Marine Corps Master Sgt. Timothy Swanson, left, commander of 2nd Platoon, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, instructs Marines and sailors attending the Lioness Program in Al Asad, Iraq, on various improvised explosive devices being used to attack Coalition and Iraqi forces, March 27, 2007. The Lioness program also prepares female servicemembers for duties searching female Iraqis. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. James R. Richardson.

 

 

By Petty Officer 2nd Class Judith Owen
Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 28 Public Affairs

 

CAMP AL ASAD — Three women from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 28 took the Navy in a new direction in the war on terrorism when, on May 3, they returned to Camp Al Asad, Iraq, as the first Seabees trained in a Marine Corps program called Lioness.

 

The Lioness program was born when Marine commanders needed a culturally acceptable way to conduct effective searches of Iraqi women at control points along the Iraqi border and other locations. Because men in Muslim countries are not allowed to touch women they are not related to, it was difficult to stop insurgents from using women to smuggle in arms or money. Lioness trains U.S. servicewomen to conduct searches of females, accomplishing the mission while being sensitive to Muslim women.

Read More Here: mnf-iraq.com