Photo By Staff Sgt. Cory Grogan | Workers from the Lora Company based out of An Nassiryah, Iraq, erect flagpoles for the...... read more read more
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AL ASAD, Iraq — An Iraqi contracting business called Lora Company has learned a lot over the past five years while working with the U.S. Army.
Lora Company recently finished doing contracting work for the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Oregon Army National Guard at Camp Adder in Southern Iraq, where the company has done over 50 projects, said an engineer from Lora.
The company is based out of Iraq's fourth largest city, An Nassiryah, which is just outside Camp Adder. The engineer from Lora said that the Army has taught the company a lot about contracting work and the construction trade.
"We have learned a lot about construction and business has been pretty good," he explained.
Sgt. Joel Ortega from Puerto Rico, assigned to the 41 IBCT Headquarters and Headquarters Company, said there has been a good working relationship between the Iraqis and members of the 41 IBCT.
Lora Company won a contract that was bid on by 11 Iraqi companies to put tile down in several offices, as well as erect three 30 foot flagpoles for the brigade to display the U.S., Oregon and 41 IBCT flags.
"With the materials, tools and equipment they have, they really do decent work. You tell them what you want and they go and do it," Ortega said.
Capt. Ian Baierlipp, a Keller, Texas native, who is an Engineer Officer with 41 IBCT, said that Joint Contracting Command-Iraq will be handing all of the contracts at Camp Adder over to the Iraqi companies, and that the learning process and development of the companies and workers is going to make the transition much smoother than it would otherwise have been.
"The best way for the Iraqis to improve is to be held to a standard and not to let the standard go; it's good to have local nationals who are here doing good things," said Baierlipp.
He believes that working with the Army and JCCI has given many Iraqis some skills that will benefit their economy in the long run.
| Date Taken: | 01.30.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 01.30.2010 05:07 |
| Story ID: | 44636 |
| Location: | AL ASAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 559 |
| Downloads: | 473 |
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