During a routine patrol in Sadr City on 04 APR 2004, Soldiers in Lieutenant Shane Aguero's platoon, members of Charlie Company, 2-5 CAV, 1st Cavalry Division, encounter hostile members of Jaish al Mahdi (JAM) [Shia militiamen loyal to Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr].
A Battalion commander had previously recommended several Soldiers for court martial for multiple drug and absent without leave (AWOL) offenses. Policy and precedence had been established such that Soldiers who were repeat drug offenders coupled with other offenses such as AWOL were recommended for court martial.
At the Defense Language Institute (DLI), officers and junior enlisted are put in the same small group class of about ten to fifteen personnel. All the Services are mixed together as well. While students are encouraged to talk to each other in the language of instruction as if equals in class, there are very strict rules regarding fraternization out of class.