Photo By Master Sgt. Mark Burrell | A carpentry and masonry specialist and native of Forest Lake, Minn., Spc. Alex Solway...... read more read more
BAGHDAD —Hot and sweaty after hours of patrolling the dangerous streets around the Abu Ghraib district here, the 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment Soldiers are ready to get clean and unwind at Joint Security Station Nasir Wa Salam, April 25.
Before, it wasn't that simple. Now, the engineers of Bravo Company, 46th Engineer Battalion, 225th Engineer Brigade are making life on the JSS a little easier for the cavalry troopers.
"It's excellent because now we have the facilities to accommodate us," remarked Sgt. Christopher Sachtjen, a combat engineer team leader from Burke, S.D., assigned to the 2nd Bn., 8th Cav. Regt. "You can actually stay clean and not worry about having to walk halfway across the JSS."
Since the beginning of March, the Bravo Co. engineers have renovated two tactical operation centers and seven old Iraqi army barracks, to include the latrines and showers, at JSS Nasir Wa Salam.
"It's awesome doing this for Soldiers and making the quality of life better," exclaimed Spc. Khalid Ammari, a native of Florissant, Mo., a carpentry and masonry specialist. "It's our job and I like our job."
As well as fixing the latrines and showers, the 46th engineers have added more lighting, doubled the electrical load capacity for the TOCs and are in the process of providing one outlet per Soldier, explained Staff Sgt. Jake Hensley, a vertical construction supervisor assigned to Bravo Co.
"The whole JSS is coming off the Iraqi grid power... and putting it on our generator power," said Hensley from Kansas City, Kan.
"Instead of having to rely on Iraqi power, it makes it more reliable," added Sachtjen.
"Instead of the power going down at random times, we are self-sufficient."
The work is often tedious and sometimes frustrating for the engineers but helping other Soldiers is worth it, added Ammari.
"We're doing about 12-hour days, but the Soldiers have always been motivated, especially to help the other Soldiers," continued Hensley. The engineers also are motivated by taking pride in their work because they realize the renovated structures will last long after coalition forces are gone, he revealed.
"Once the drawdown happens and takes full effect, the Iraqi army will occupy this area just like it used to be theirs," said Hensley.
In one instance, a water main broke in the city outside of the JSS and the 46th engineers were called on to fix it.
"They actually had an IA plumber help with a water main break out here," said Hensley. "It's a cooperation you know, that's what we're here for! It's nice to know we're helping the Iraqi forces get on their feet, helping them with our engineering skills."
Teamwork and engineering skills aren't the only impressions the engineers are leaving.
"[The buildings are] going to be here and they'll be using those facilities to protect their own people once we're gone and that feels good," added Hensley. "That's what engineer Soldiers like — to know that their work is going to stay and be here for however long, till it's time to move on."
These engineers have worked at six other joint security stations doing 11 different missions throughout Baghdad and plan on finishing this mission in June.
When it is time to move on from JSS Nasir Wa Salam, the Bravo Co. Soldiers will leave behind high-quality work and take with them the feeling that they connected more than electricity.
| Date Taken: | 04.27.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 04.27.2009 07:51 |
| Story ID: | 32908 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 806 |
| Downloads: | 617 |
This work, Up to code: Engineers work on Joint Security Station Nasir Wa Salam, by MSG Mark Burrell, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
