Army Col. Michael Kershaw, commander of 10th Mountain Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team, says the area in Euphrates River Valley, once a hotbed for militant action, now has approximately 16,000 citizen-formed groups working with Iraqi army soldiers and coalition forces to pacify their neighborhoods according to the American Forces Press Service.

“We’ve really seen a dramatic reversal in the security situation,” said Kershaw, in a statement.

Kershaw and his troops have been in Iraq for 14 months patrolling a 300-square-mile area southeast of Baghdad.

The colonel says the citizens groups have been the turning point in establishing stability within his area of operations. Officials say the citizens have enrolled to form the armed citizens groups, many of which are performing security patrols and checkpoint duties that have led to the capture of more than 85 terrorist leaders.

Kershaw says the increased security situation has allowed several roads to reopen, which has been a positive sign for local commerce.

“We’re now able to work on projects in the local areas that help stimulate the local economy,” Kershaw said. “ … Government of Iraq programs can now move into areas that were previously denied to them by the insurgency."

Despite the recent successes two of Kershaw’s soldiers, Spc. Alex Jimenez, 25, and Pvt. Byron Fouty, 19, remain missing after a May 12 attack near the village of Qarghuli.