Photo By Master Sgt. Joseph Vine | Capt. Michael Lay, Commander of the 299th Engineer Company, speaks with an Iraqi...... read more read more
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BAGHDAD - As Iraqi Security Forces continue to combat terrorists, they are also looking to help rebuild their country and improve the infrastructure that has been damaged or destroyed by insurgents.
To assist them with improving their capability to rebuild, soldiers from the 299th Engineer Company, 724th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade, are partnering with an Iraqi Army Strategic Bridge Company.
This partnership between the U.S. and Iraqi engineers builds the foundation that will enable the Iraqi unit to greatly increase the ability for both military personnel and the country’s citizen to move freely throughout Iraq.
“We are training the Iraqi Strategic Bridge Company the basic functions and building blocks of becoming a bridge company,” said Capt. Michael Lay, from Sterling, Va., and commander of the 299th Eng. Company.
“Bridges in combat are an absolute necessity,” said Sgt. Michael McConaughey, from State College, Pa., and a bridge crewmember for the 299th. “The ISF can’t take the fight to the enemy unless they can get there.”
The training is done in different phases. Phase one is learning how to drive the trucks that transport a bridge. Phase two covers the use of boats to deploy a bridge, and phase three will incorporate the entire bridging process from transportation to completion.
“We hope that by next year this company becomes a regiment,” said an Iraqi officer in the Strategic Bridge Company. “I consider this training to be bringing us a step closer to that goal.”
Training the ISF how to install and maintain the bridges is vital to the future success of the country, which is divided by two major rivers.
“Iraq is divided by the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, with many canals throughout,” said Lay. “If they don’t have the capabilities to bridge those rivers, they’re limited to the access of existing bridges which could be 30 to 50 miles apart, and many of those bridges are in disrepair.”
As the engineers continue to assist the ISF as they hone their bridge-building skills, the U.S. soldiers say the Iraqi troops display the dedication to the mission that is commonplace in U.S. units.
“They’re eager to learn, they’re highly motivated,” said McConaughey.
| Date Taken: | 11.08.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 11.08.2010 02:21 |
| Story ID: | 59625 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 185 |
| Downloads: | 7 |
This work, Cross training: US engineers, Iraqi troops train on bridge construction, by MSG Joseph Vine, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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