Photo By Capt. Meghan E. Keefe | The 37th Engineer Battalion (Combat) (Airborne)-Joint Task Force Eagle Commander Lt....... read more read more
IRAQ - Soldiers of Joint Task Force Eagle combined efforts with their Iraqi army engineer counterparts to build an Engineer Castle, apply their skills and symbolize their joint engineer venture and future partnership operations at Ghalibiayh July 21.
Joint Task Force Eagle's mission is centered on partnership and growing the technical skills of their counterparts. JTF-Eagle Military Transition Team and the 5th Iraqi Army Field Engineer Regiment used the symbol of the Engineer Corps to establish an opportunity for dialogue between two commanders who share a similar vision for the future of Iraq.
In his office, Col. Ra'ad, the 5th IA FER commander, met with JTF-Eagle commander Lt. Col. Paul Huszar from Seabring, Fla., and his Command Sgt. Maj. Wayne Durham from Norlina, N.C., in order to discuss engineering support. Huszar's main concern was to discuss a potential project that could greatly affect one of the top two issues for the Diyala province; waste management. There are four landfill projects waiting to be contracted and Huszar has taken the lead on one that JTF-Eagle and the 5th IA FER could build in partnership. Part of the JTF-Eagle relationship with the 5th is to begin reconstruction missions, assisting them with developing and executing sustainable operations in their province.
Through the use of Huszar's interpreter, Ra'ad said he appreciated all of the support JTF-Eagle was willing to provide. Ra'ad articulated his opinion on how the Diyala government needed to decide where the landfills would be located and making it known to the public for their use. Ra'ad also mentioned that he wanted the 5th IA FER to be involved in the contracting process, which Huszar agreed would be a very good thing.
Outside Soldiers, non-commissioned officers and officers of the MiTT and 5th IA FER gathered around the castle listening as 1st Lt. Chad Livingston, the MiTT team leader from Tempe, Ariz., spoke on the meaning of the project.
"The Castle was built by the Soldiers of the 37th and the 5th," said Livingston. "It represents our relationship and our future success for the upcoming year."
At the base of the castle the Soldiers had fresh concrete ready for the commanders to place their hands in. Both Command Sgts. Maj. placed the 37th Engineer Battalion Coin in the center. The group posed for photos, shook hands and talked about the project and the uniqueness of the castle.
The dialogue continued with conversation about family and sports, specifically the soccer game between the Task Force and the 5th IA FER that upcoming Thursday in Ghalibiyah. Huszar then told Ra'ad that should he ever find himself in the Fort Bragg area around engineer paratroopers of the 37th Engineer Battatalion (Combat) (Airborne), he would show him how airborne engineers do things.
"We'll show you bulldozers dropping from Airplanes" said Huszar as everyone had a good laugh.
In addition to the landfill project, Huszar also mentioned other potential partnership missions that would increase both the vertical and horizontal construction capabilities of the 5th IA FER. The primary mission of JTF-Eagle is to join efforts with the 5th IA FER in order to improve the quality of life for the local populace, doing what engineers do best.
Huszar left Ghalibiyah feeling hopeful. He would later express to his key leaders that the partnership does not stop at the MiTT. Partnership, within the task force, will take the initiative and go beyond that.
"I encourage you all to meet this challenge head-on and establish a relationship with your counterpart, the company commander for the 5th IA FER Headquarters and Headquarters Company or 1SG (first sergeant) for example" said Huszar. "I want, by the time we leave, for everyone to be working with a counterpart from the 5th IA FER".
The intent is to develop respect between the forces, a greater competence in basic leadership, the NCO support channel and daily operations that are essential for a functioning unit. Joint Task Force Eagle is determined to meet this challenge and leave Iraq knowing that their footprint lies in the capabilities of the 5th IA FER.
| Date Taken: | 07.21.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 07.25.2009 08:07 |
| Story ID: | 36805 |
| Location: | IQ |
| Web Views: | 503 |
| Downloads: | 253 |
This work, 5th Iraqi Army Field Engineer Regiment and Joint Task Force Eagle Soldiers build Engineering skills and partnership during construction of an engineer castle., by CPT Meghan E. Keefe, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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