ANA honor soldiers and seabees from Task Force EBAAT as thanks

CAMP PHOENIX, AFGHANISTAN

01.22.2014

Courtesy Story

130th Engineer Brigade

By Steelworker 2nd Class Amanda Lewis
Joint Task Force EBAAT

CAMP PHOENIX, Afghanistan – Soldiers from 14th Construction Management Team (CMT), from Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, and Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 28, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, were recognized for their contributions as members of the Task Force EBAAT (Engineering Brigade Advise and Assist Team).

Thirteen Soldiers and Seabees were awarded Letters of Achievement from Afghan National Army (ANA) Combined Fielding Center (CFC) Commanding Officer, Col. Ahmadullah Dawar. These Letters of Achievement applauded them for their efforts to improve training of ANA soldiers at the CFC.

Mission planning for the training of the National Engineering Brigade (NEB) began in September 2013, with initial training launching a few months later in December. Over the course of four weeks, Seabees from NMCB28 have trained 85 ANA soldiers from the NEB Specialty Engineering Kandak on basic construction skills to include carpentry, electrical, utilities, and vehicle maintenance.

This training consisted of rough framing, building guard houses to help protect ANA soldiers from the elements while providing security, and electrical platforms designed by Seabees to instruct proper wiring techniques using materials and voltage common to Afghanistan. The Seabees also constructed plumbing stations, where utilities-men (UT) taught installation of sinks, showers and toilets as well as the mounting of heating and cooling units.

Construction Electrician Third Class Arey Surratt, a vertical construction advisor, stated, “I love the training and working with the Afghans. They are eager to learn and pick up the material so fast. Then once you teach one, they teach the rest. Just as they learn from us, I learn something new from them every day.”

“The creation of a National Engineering Brigade truly is history in the making for both Afghanistan and the Seabees,” Steelworker Chief Barry Wood, TF EBAAT Training Chief, explained. “The skills gained here will bring new capabilities to the Afghan government and improve security as well as improve the lives of the citizens here as these soldiers deploy throughout the country.”

Wood continued, “Our Seabees are being recognized by the Afghans for their part in training the ANA shows their recognition of the partnership that exists between our forces.”

This mission is proving to be a valuable and unforgettable experience for both coalition and Afghan forces. Seabees plan to continue partnering with ANA engineers throughout 2014.

• Date Taken: 01.22.2014
• Date Posted: 01.25.2014 07:37
• Story ID: 119648
• Location: CAMP PHOENIX, AF
• Hometown: SHREVEPORT, LA, US