Photo By Sgt. Brandon Le Flore | Spc. Edwin Sanchez checks a man's passport during his re-entry to Iraq at Point of...... read more read more
CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq — Command Sgt. Maj. Douglas Julin, 34th Red Bull Infantry Division, visited several of the bases occupied by Multi-National Division-South Soldiers to meet with Soldiers and catch a glimpse of their living conditions June 9.
The Division Command Sgt. Maj. took a moment to visit Joint Security Station Salam, Point of Entry Zurbatia, Forward Operating Base Shaker, FOB Delta and FOB Hunter.
"We went to see the battlefield and the Soldiers in the [MND-S operational] area," said Julin. "[I] needed to see how the Soldiers live and determine what can be done to make their living conditions better and support [their unit's leadership] in creating a standard of living comparable to other Soldiers."
Of the bases visited by the Division Command Sgt. Maj., POE Zurbatia is showing the most measurable change.
POE Zurbatia, currently run by Task Force Drifter's "team Alamo," is one of many transfer points along the border between Iraq and Iran. At this POE all goods are transferred from one truck on the Iran side of the border to another and then brought into Iraq where they are searched before moving to their final destination in Iraq.
"This process helps reduce smuggling of weapons, money, drugs and other contraband," said 1st Sgt. Steven Botteicher, non-commissioned officer-in-charge, Task Force Drifter.
"The changes to [POE Zurbatia] will provide a better means for monitoring what's going across the border and a better opportunity for observers to act," said Julin.
In the future the trucks will line up back to back and the goods will be unloaded from a truck in Iran to one in Iraq. In this way, observers can watch as each item is moved to ensure there are no inappropriate items coming into the country.
Iraqi security forces in conjunction with U.S. Soldiers from 589th Brigade Support Battalion, 41st Fires Brigade, search all vehicles moving in and out of the country along with checking each individual's police record for misconduct in Iraq.
If anyone trying to exit or re-enter the country is wanted by the police they are immediately seized and placed into police custody, said Botteicher.
"Zurbatia is one of the busiest points of entry into Iraq and we've captured people who were trying to smuggle items into the country," he added.
At some of the smaller bases, such as FOB Shaker and FOB Hunter, the major issue facing MND-S Soldiers is the heat in their tents and living areas.
"We'll ensure that we get tent foam on the tents to reduce the heat and make it more comfortable for the Soldiers," said Julin.
"It was beneficial for me to see the differences on each of the FOBs," Julin added. "The goal is to talk to Soldiers at each and every one of them."
| Date Taken: | 06.17.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 06.17.2009 03:18 |
| Story ID: | 35195 |
| Location: | BASRA, IQ |
| Web Views: | 201 |
| Downloads: | 174 |
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