130th Engineers nearing completion of Combat Outpost India construction

Photo By Staff Sgt. Melanie Trollinger | Command Sgt. Maj. Dale A. Moran, 130th Engineer Brigade, visits 643rd Engineer Company Soldiers during a Combat Outpost India site visit Saturday. COP India will house U.S. forces advisory teams to train Iraqi security forces.  

MOSUL, IRAQ

07.20.2009

Story by Staff Sgt. Melanie Trollinger 

145th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment   

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE MAREZ, MOSUL, Iraq - With the sound of hammers and saws resonating in the otherwise still night air at Combat Outpost India, Soldiers of the 643rd Engineer Company are making steady progress to complete construction of the outpost.

COP India's completion will help facilitate the reduction of U.S. forces from the city of Mosul.

The outpost will be used as a training site for local Iraqi security forces, and its construction will also make the areas north of Mosul more accessible to the reconstruction teams working in the area, said Cpt. Joshua A. Long, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 130th Engineer Brigade technical headquarters officer-in-charge.

"This is a major construction project that will significantly increase USF's ability to train with Iraqis, and will facilitate transition to the GOI," said Long.

Advisory teams from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, deployed from Ft. Hood, Texas, will occupy COP India and their primary role will be training the ISF's.

Capt. Kevin P. Arnett, commander, 643rd Eng. Co., said the completion of COP India will help expand the capabilities of the advisory teams and will improve the area. Initiated in mid-June, COP India has been a big construction project for Arnett's unit and the engineers are now nearing the final phase of the project.

"The construction of COP India has been the brigade's number one priority. Despite significant constraints, the 643rd adapted, and performed extraordinarily," Long said.

Once finished, COP India will consist of multiple housing structures, including living quarters and offices, a dining facility, a laundry facility, and a morale, welfare and recreation facility.

"This will be a nice living area for the Soldiers. We've put a lot of pride and hard work in this project and hope it will help them accomplish their mission," said1st Lt. Emily Hannenberg, 1st platoon leader 643rd Eng. Co.

• Date Taken: 07.20.2009
• Date Posted: 07.24.2009 02:56
• Story ID: 36745
• Location: MOSUL, IQ