Engineers build to Protect: Military Police receive improvements to living quaters

Courtesy Photo | Military Police Soliders lived in open bay quarters prior to construction, Feb. 9.... read more read more

Courtesy Photo | Military Police Soliders lived in open bay quarters prior to construction, Feb. 9.  see less | View Image Page

IRAQ

02.24.2008

Courtesy Story

Multi-National Division Baghdad

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By Sgt. Henry Bauer
769th Engineer Battalion, 35 Engineer Brigade Unit Public Affairs Representative

COMBAT OUTPOST OLD MOD, Iraq — Securing the safety of downtown Baghdad is a stressful and demanding mission for the Soldiers of the 108th Military Police Company. These security missions are very physically demanding and mentally challenging. For these MPs from Fort Bragg, N.C., personal space and comfortable living conditions help to lessen the stressors of their critical mission in Support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

When the 108th first arrived at COP Old Mod, the living conditions were neither personal nor private. The bays the Soldiers occupied were the open-bay military arrangements: large, open rooms accommodating up to 30 Soldiers with bunk beds and not much else.

"The previous living conditions were open-bay type rooms. There was just no privacy, no air circulation. It was generally live where you can fit in with no personal space whatsoever. This being the second, third and in some cases like mine, the fourth tour to the Middle East since 9/11, to get better living conditions is well-deserved." said 1st Sgt. Christopher Brown, a native of Lillington, N.C., with the 108th Military Police Co., 95th MP Battalion, 18th MP Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, MND-B.

With such confined living conditions, Brown explored his options through the 4th Infantry Division to improve the living conditions at COP Old Mod. Although Brown initially wanted to build individual rooms for each and every Soldier, he had to rethink his plans with the help of the 35th Engineer Brigade from the Missouri Army National Guard stationed out of Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., and the 769th Engineer Battalion from the Louisiana Army National Guard stationed out of Baton Rouge, La.

Brown's initial idea was to build a loft above the existing open bay. Through a thorough assessment by the 769th EN Battalion's Construction Operations Section, it was determined that a more secluded arrangement could be established.

Once the plans were drawn up, the 851st Vertical Engineer Company from Little Falls, Minn., attached to the 769th Engineer Battalion, was tasked with the mission of improving the living arrangements. The 851st Soldiers took a few days to prepare for the mission by gathering the necessary building of material assets before heading out to the COP Old Mod construction site.

The 851st Soldiers arrived at COP Old Mod and began work for the 108th MP Co., immediately, initially setting up their construction equipment, downloading the building materials, and addressing many concerns that were present.

"The Soldiers of the 851st are like professional contractors, they are all about the customer is first type attitude," Brown exclaimed.

Once the first large room was converted into a two story apartment style area, it was determined that each large room would take about seven days to complete. This timeframe has been consistent due to the constant motivation and determination of the 851st Soldiers to better accommodate the 108th MP Co.

There has been steady progression and equal satisfaction that has been met so far from the room modifications by the Soldiers of the 851st.

Brown states "Everyone from generals to privates marvel their work, as for morale and motivation of my Soldiers, it has definitely made a difference. Just being able to come back in from being out in sector all day and having a place of your own to reflect has done wonders for them."

When Brown was asked how the new accommodations are helping with the overall operation of their mission here in Baghdad, he stated, "with the new rooms I can better accommodate more Soldiers to perform maintenance on their equipment where as before, I didn't have a place for them to stay. I can now accommodate my whole MP Company to stay here, whereas before, I could only accommodate a small amount of Soldiers at a time".

The Soldiers of the 851st are true professionals and have had a great impact on the lives of the Soldiers of the 108th MP Co.