Photo By Staff Sgt. Caitlyn Byrne | Spc. Quondeshia Butler, center, Soldier of the 104th Engineer Company, 62nd Engineer...... read more read more
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MONROVIA, Liberia – Passing clouds provide a small amount of relief, but despite the heat, Soldiers from the 104th Engineer Company, 62nd Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas, work in harmony with soldiers from 1st Engineer Company, 23rd Infantry Brigade, Armed Forces Liberia, while they strive to construct an Ebola treatment unit in Sinje, Liberia, Nov. 14.
Multiple treatment tents have already been erected and staked down, while AFL soldiers work and are joined by Soldiers of the 36th Eng. Bde., in the construction of numerous other structures, including outhouses and a washroom. Sparks fly as metal poles are welded, while the steady pounding of hammers keeps time with mechanical whir of handsaws. Together, the 36th Eng. Bde. and the 1st Eng. Company are getting things done.
In support of U.S. Agency for International Development, the Joint Forces Command – United Assistance is helping the government of Liberia contain the Ebola virus and synchronize the establishment of ETUs across Liberia, while also training health care workers to staff the ETUs.
The JFC-UA are scheduled to build 17 ETUs across Liberia in support of USAID-lead efforts to identify and isolate Ebola patients quicker.
Nov. 14 marked one of the first days the Army and the AFL engineer companies worked side-by-side on the Sinje ETU site. Staff Sgt. Michael Ashton, 36th Eng. Bde., native of Arlington, Texas, remarked on how easy it has been working with the AFL.
“It’s been great since day one,” he said. “All soldiers, both American and Liberian, have been respectful, open-minded and receptive.”
Ashton said he and his Soldiers were excited to have a chance to help the people of Liberia in any way they could, and the experience is proving to be rewarding in many ways.
“It’s good diversity for Soldiers to experience, and it gives them an opportunity to learn how other countries do work,” said Ashton.
Captain Dada Glee, commander of the 1st Eng. Company, AFL, held similar sentiments about the harmonious relationship between the Army and the AFL soldiers.
“[The U.S. Army] came a week ago, and it has been very encouraging working with them,” said Glee. “There is a lot of room for both sides to learn from the other; knowledge is unique, and I tell my soldiers that they should always be open and willing to learn.”
Being receptive to learning seems to be a key element in the success of this mission.
“This is my first deployment and it’s pretty awesome that we get to really make a difference here in Liberia,” said Spc. Jasmine Murray, 36th Eng. Bn., Burlington City, New Jersey, native. “Everyone is welcoming, and it is a different feeling. I’m learning some pretty great things.”
Cpl. Morgan A. Richards, a soldier of the 1st Eng. Company, AFL, said he is grateful for the opportunity to learn from the U.S. Army while also helping make a difference in his own country.
“I’ve been in high spirits getting to assist my country, and I am thankful for the U.S. Army’s help with materials and labor,” he said. “It is my greatest happiness to make Ebola leave, so that we can get back to our own way of life.”
| Date Taken: | 11.14.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 11.16.2014 15:43 |
| Story ID: | 147975 |
| Location: | MONROVIA, LR |
| Hometown: | ARLINGTON, TX, US |
| Hometown: | BURLINGTON, NJ, US |
| Web Views: | 402 |
| Downloads: | 4 |
This work, Building reprieve: 36th Engineer Brigade joins with Armed Forces Liberia, by SSG Caitlyn Byrne, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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