Photo By Master Sgt. Jerry Saslav | A Multi-National Division-Baghdad Soldier from Company B, 46th Engineer Combat...... read more read more
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By Sgt. Jerry Saslav
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division-Baghdad
FORWARD OPERATING BASE WAR EAGLE, Iraq – The Soldiers of Earth Movers Platoon, Company B, 46th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy), gathered for their mission briefing.
They would pick up a Quality Assurance/Quality Control team and then head into Sadr City. The men are heavy equipment operators and supervisors – they just haven't done that job in months.
After the briefing, the troops of the 46th ECB, which is currently attached to Multi-National Division – Baghdad's 926th Engineer Brigade, took a moment, formed a circle, linked arms and prayed; they then loaded into their Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles and headed out.
The platoon provides security for a QA/QC team as it checks on the quality of coalition forces-funded projects being carried out by Iraqi contractors. The engineers provide transportation and physical security for their fellow engineers, and the team visits approximately 120 sites a week.
The Soldiers cannot always drive to each construction site; they normally walk in.
"Security's first; we use Infantry tactics as for how we move. Our primary focus is always the security and safety of the people we escort," said 1st Lt. Jeremy Atkinson, a native of New Orleans, who serves as the platoon leader.
For this mission, the team visited a park, a performing arts center and a few schools, all under various stages of construction in the Sadr City district of Baghdad.
The first stop was the Talley Performing Arts Center, where a building to house a concession stand, storage and offices is being built at one end of the lot with the theatre located at the other end.
As the team exited their MRAPs, the engineers fanned out and pulled security while the QA/QC members started their inspection. Staff Sgt. Romualdo Portes was the first Soldier out of the back of his vehicle.
"When I roll out of the vehicles, everything goes through your mind. You've got to remember your training. You've got to picture the possibilities of getting hit, sniper fire, a suicide vest, anything," said Portes, a native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, who serves with the 46th ECB (Heavy).
The team tries to spend as little time on the ground as possible while allowing the QA/QC members the time they need.
"It's kind of unique to see how the Iraqis actually build their structures versus how we build in the U.S. They work hard; they're dedicated to what they do, and they do their best at it," said Rhodes, a platoon sergeant with Co. B, 46th ECB, Task Force Gold, 926th Engineer Brigade, Multi-National Division-Baghdad.
There was no heavy machinery present at the site, rather, the site was primarily manned by Iraqi laborers with hand tools.
"It's kind of interesting, looking at them work, because we have equipment to work with and whatever they have they make do with it," said Staff Sgt. Mario Haywood, a native of Los Angeles.
After a short time on the ground, the team headed to schools in the northeastern Baghdad district. They drove to some and walked to others.
"We look for strange items along the streets, unusual scenery around the schools. Normally when we go to the schools, there are people working and walking around the schools; but if we get to a school that's totally empty, it makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck and raises a red flag," said Rhodes.
At one school the team walked to, Haywood, a squad leader with Co. B, 46th ECB (Heavy), positioned himself at the gate of the school.
"You feel good because you're watching out for your guys; you're watching out for the innocent civilians, and you're also watching out for the guys who are checking these schools and making sure that these young kids have somewhere to go to get educated, to have parks to play in, soccer fields to play on, " said Haywood.
In very little time, Haywood found himself confronted by 20 children – all of whom were vying for his attention. It is a situation, he said, that he doesn't mind.
"I have kids myself. If we're in an area that is not too safe, then I 'shoo' them away because we have protection and they don't," said Haywood, who kept a watchful eye on the surrounding buildings.
As Haywood manned the entrance, other members of the Earth Movers provided security around the rest of the compound.
"We're looking for any kind of possible booby traps or possible improvised-explosive devices inside the school. There's always the threat that there may be somebody with some kind of small-arms waiting for you inside the school," said Atkinson, who is a platoon leader with Co. B, 46th ECB.
There weren't many workmen visible at this school, just the caretaker and his family.
"It's a good feeling, knowing that we're going through the schools, making sure the schools are ready for the year because education is a plus to all kids, not just only our kids in the U.S. The kids clap and they sing songs, in their native language, giving us praise for the things that we're doing," said Rhodes.
One of the stops was a park, called Regular 6 Park by the MND-B troops, after Task Force 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment's commander, who led the effort to regain security in this war-torn district.
The park had been close to completion once before. However, upon inspection, it was decided that a better job could be done so the contractor started over. While the contractor was working, children used the park.
"The kids are always in the park having fun. It's a good feeling seeing the little kids being able to enjoy life like our kids enjoy life back home," said Rhodes.
While many children visit the park, it remains in an area where violence dominated daily life this past spring.
"The park's a little more risky because you're out in the open versus being in a school, where you've got good surroundings. Once you've cleared the school, you're pretty safe inside," said Atkinson. "We have to make sure we still shake the hands of the kids, pass out candy and water bottles – at the same time, maintain an aggressive posture, ready to strike if someone should try to strike us."
As the QA/QC team inspected the park and found some damage. The contractor said while the damage was being done at night by area children, he would have it fixed.
It was Portes turn as we were approached by the curious children. He joked with them, all the while scanning the area to ensure there were no potential threats.
While he and the rest of the platoon are not necessarily performing the military occupational specialties they had trained for, the Soldiers say they are gratified by the current role they are playing.
"It's rewarding when the kids smile at you, and they know that you're there for a reason. It's not to kill or to invade, like some of the bad guys like to think so," said Portes.. "They know that you're there for a good reason: it's to help them out.
"I love when the kids approach me and they try to shake my hand. When you think about it, they're around six, seven now; they're going to remember my face. They might not remember names, but they'll definitely remember that one person, that one American Soldier that took the time, that took a picture with them and shook their hands.
"We're changing the area. We're helping the people of Iraq."
| Date Taken: | 09.12.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 09.12.2008 04:31 |
| Story ID: | 23547 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 482 |
| Downloads: | 377 |
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