TIKRIT –The presence of U.S. Soldiers at Tikrit University is nothing new.  But these days the Soldiers aren’t there to secure the campus, but rather to interact with Iraqi students as part of the "Soldier to Student" chat program.

The original goal of the program was to help the students learn English, but the weekly chats have the added benefit of providing American Soldiers a glimpse into the daily lives of Iraqi college students and a forum to dissolve cultural and language barriers.

"I learned that [Iraqi students] are very similar to my college friends,” said Navy Lt. Allen E. Linken. “They feared exams, and strove for jobs after graduation.  They wanted to meet their girlfriend in the seat next to them during class and spoke about their hometown friends.  Meeting with the students gave me a completely new perspective on the people I met and talked with.

"I enjoyed the candor of the conversation," continued Linken, a New Winsor, N.Y. native. "The students were engaged with us and talked about everything from their families to their lecturers; to gender roles within Iraq; and each thought and conversation was well-articulated and thought out."

Other Soldiers were impressed at the resources available for Iraqi students.

"The students were very friendly and entertaining, while the facilities appeared very well equipped as an educational environment," said Capt. Jason Gordon, a legal officer from Bennettsville, S.C.

As Iraq prepares for local and national elections, recent chats have helped Soldiers understand the political situation in Salah ad-Din province as well.

"It was great to hear opinions on the political landscape in Iraq from the people who are most affected, Iraqi citizens," said Glenn Falls, N.Y., native, Capt. Todd Chard. "I was impressed by the level of passion displayed over the upcoming national elections."

In addition to the chats, Iraqi students are also given the opportunity to take a class preparing them for the Test of English as a Foreign Language. The TOEFL class is taught by U.S. Soldier volunteers.

"The overall objective is for students to have the chance to take the TOEFL, pass it and move on," said Sgt. 1st Class Kurt Harnstine.

Passing the TOEFL class can help students reach their goals of studying at a Western University. According to Harnstine, a TOEFL instructor, about 30 - 40 students show up each week for chats and the TOEFL class.

"Their efforts make it worthwhile," he said.

The learning doesn't stop once TOEFL classes and chats are over. At the end of each session new friendships are formed and e-mail addresses exchanged as Soldiers and students continue to communicate and learn from each other.

The program was developed through partnership efforts between the U.S. State Department’s local Provincial Reconstruction Team, leaders and administrators at Tikrit University and the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division.

Currently, Tikrit University has more than 15,000 students studying in 16 colleges. The university is partnered with several U.S. universities, including the University of South Carolina, the University of North Carolina, the Rochester Institute of Technology, the University of Utah, the University of Wisconsin and Truman State University.