Courtesy Photo | Iraqi troops in Mahmudiyah go through assault training in a 'shoot house,' designed...... read more read more
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2nd Lt. Liz Lopez
210th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division
MAHMUDIYAH, Iraq — Soldiers in Iraq often have to make do with less. Other times, they simply build what they need themselves.
When the Soldiers of 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team (BCT), 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), out of Fort Drum, N.Y., needed to build a close quarters combat training facility at the Iraqi army compound in Mahmudiyah, they called upon a "Commando Provider" Soldier of the 210th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd BCT.
Spc. Brian Cherry, a native of Dallas and one of the battalion's X-ray technicians, had already unearthed some dormant skills as both a carpenter and a civil engineer to support the unit.
He had previously revealed his talents by improving various locations at Forward Operating Base Mahmudiyah, from cabinets to gazebos to a barracks for the medics near the aid station.
Cherry credits his motivation to volunteer his experience and expertise to the memory of his grandfather's words of wisdom, which he echoed. "Always leave a place better than you found it."
In May, he spent two weeks designing and constructing the "shoot house," as the close-quarters training facility is known. It is now used as part of the Commando Course, an advanced infantry course for Iraqi soldiers.
An experienced engineer, Cherry designed each of the shoot house's rooms. His goal was to imitate typical rooms Iraqi soldiers might find in local buildings.
Even more important than the rooms was the structure's safety.
Cherry said the most hazardous aspect of the shoot house was it lacked a roof. While the design allows instructors to view and critique the trainees clearing the spaces inside from a catwalk above, the absence of a roof severely weakens the structure's integrity.
Cherry overcame the challenge by building supports between the walls themselves at each corner, preventing them from collapsing inward with the first strong wind and making them strong enough to support trainers watching from the catwalk.
Surrounded by Hesco barriers to catch bullets during live-fire exercises, the shoot house now looks like a fortress.
Iraqi soldiers began using it for training in late June. Cherry showed pride in his accomplishment, and is optimistic of its future.
"It was cool, building it," Cherry said. "I know it is going to contribute to getting their military up to speed."
Cherry is also modest about his project. He said he knows that his contribution is but a "tiny piece in the great big puzzle."
| Date Taken: | 08.01.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 08.01.2007 17:04 |
| Story ID: | 11583 |
| Location: | MAHMUDIYAH, IQ |
| Web Views: | 157 |
| Downloads: | 98 |
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