Multi-National Division Baghdad

Courtesy Story

By Spc. Brian Johnson

BAGHDAD – At Joint Security Station Nasir Wa Salam, guard duty can be a dangerous assignment for Soldiers of the 2nd Infantry Division.

On Nov. 14, thanks to Soldiers from the 1434th Engineer Company, the guard towers at JSS NWS, on western edge of Baghdad, are getting a much needed safety upgrade.

Engineers installed safety platforms at different levels for the long climb to the top of the guard towers. Previously, Soldiers climbed to the top of the tower using ladders pieced together in six foot sections. The gaps in the steps of the ladders could sometimes reach 36 inches. In the daytime, this is dangerous enough. In the dark, it can spell disaster.

"Right now, if a Sxoldier climbs into any of the guard towers that doesn't have the safety platforms, the potential for them to get injured is very real," said Sgt. Shane Brown of Harrison, Mich.

"If a Soldier missteps climbing up or down the long ladder in the tower, they could fall and potentially get seriously injured. If they have all of their equipment on, the risk for severe injury increases that much more".

To change this, Brown's team has been hard at work constructing staggered ladder sections and platforms to increase soldier safety as they enter and exit the tower.

"Now, with the platforms in the tower, the Soldiers on guard duty will be able to enter the tower, climb to their guard post safely and quickly and minimize the risk of any injury that could occur," said Brown.

Pvt. 1st Class Cody Grigg, of Cadillac, Mich., one of the Soldiers of the 1434th working on the project, is grateful that no injuries had occurred prior to the new safety platforms being installed.

"As we pull the ladders out of the towers, some of them have just fallen apart. Other ladders have bent easily or had tremendous gaps between some of the rungs," said Grigg.

According to Brown, the project is moving along very quickly.

"We have been able to adapt well and assemble the platforms almost as fast as we can cut the wood for them," said Brown.

"When we are done, the Soldiers here will definitely be a lot safer getting to their guard post than they have been previously."

The construction of the safety platforms is expected to be complete within the next two weeks.

Associated Images

Control Panel