Courtesy Photo | John Bass (center), team leader for the Baghdad Provincial Reconstruction Team, and...... read more read more
By Staff Sgt. Michael Molinaro
Multi-National Division - Baghdad
BAGHDAD – Soldiers from Multi-National Division – Baghdad labored long and hard to acquire the security gains made while on the 4th Infantry Division's watch in Baghdad. While the enemy may be close to defeat, it will be all for naught if the citizens of Baghdad don't see an increased capability in the things many Americans take for granted.
Enter the Baghdad Provincial Reconstruction Team, led by team leader John Bass. While they may wear shirts and pants that aren't ACU patterned, they are vital members of the MND-B team and have a crucial stake in helping Iraq achieve success on its own turf.
"PRT is a laboratory, a place where foreign service workers and civilians work with the military on the front lines," said Bass, a native of Chatham, N.Y. "Everybody comes together and focuses on common goals – to get all of us home and develop a normal relationship between the U.S. and Iraq."
Bass arrived in country three months ago to take the helm at Baghdad PRT and has quickly become a go-to-guy for Maj. Gen. Jeffery Hammond, commanding general of MND-B and the 4th Inf. Div. As violence in the capital remains at an all-time low after a lot of hard work by MND-B Soldiers, nobody is taking it easy as the next phase of non-kinetic operations is underway in and around Baghdad.
"We are taking advantage of the increased security in Baghdad to help the Iraqi government and the citizens of Baghdad by providing services and necessities of life that everybody deserves," Bass said. "We are constantly working with Iraqi officials to improve their ability to plan and recognize the needs of the citizens and then take their money and meet those needs."
Bass' team is a unique organization, made up of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, both active and reserve components; career foreign service workers from the U.S. State Department; professionals with specialized expertise such as engineers and city planners; and bicultural bilingual advisors.
"The [BBAs] bridge the cultural gap so things we are trying to accomplish make sense to our Iraqi partners," Bass said.
The PRT falls under the leadership of the U.S. Embassy but is paired with MND-B and works very closely with the division and brigade combat team staffs. The bridge between MND-B and the Baghdad PRT is Col. Gary Agron, deputy team leader and the effects coordinator for MND-B and the 4th Inf. Div.
"Every day is exciting," said Agron. "There is a lot more interaction now between division and PRT than before. Both staffs have a joint common plan and unified effort, which all goes back to the relationship between the commanding general and John Bass. We are all interdependent on each other."
Rarely is a day on the PRT a boring day. Team members are out in the city meeting with Iraqi officials, engineers, city planners and overseeing projects. They visit private banks to help the Iraqis acquire more funds so small businesses can grow, and the Baghdad Law School to provide legal textbooks.
"The day we have is rarely the day we plan," said Bass.
One of the things Bass believes is a sure sign of progress in Baghdad is the renovation of Airport Road. Since his arrival, the road has been transformed from one hampered with T-Walls,
concertina wire and trash to one that has freshly-painted guard rails, upgraded overpasses and permanent security walls.
"The key to all of this is it is all being done with Iraqi money by Iraqi engineers according to the city's plans," he remarked.
Right now, the PRT is spending a lot of time to ensure that the scheduled provincial elections come off well.
"It is a key milestone in the transition to a durable society based on the rule of law," Bass said.
The PRT and MND-B leadership will continue to assist the Iraqi government as it grows and becomes more capable of administering and securing its country. While this may have not been the focus a few years ago, it is clearly the goal now and an Iraqi government without any help from the outside will bear the true mark of success here in Baghdad and throughout the country.
"An old saying goes 'You can teach someone how to fish or you can just give them the fish,'" said Agron. "The Iraqis are learning how to fish."
| Date Taken: | 10.10.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 10.10.2008 08:11 |
| Story ID: | 24786 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 107 |
| Downloads: | 48 |
This work, Baghdad PRT key player on MND-B team, by Michael Molinaro, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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