CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq - Soldiers from the 86th Engineer Dive Team, 115th Fires Brigade, clear debris from the bottom of the Euphrates River, near Camp Taqaddum, Iraq.

Clearing the way for a bridge to be built across the river will take about two weeks and is scheduled to be completed by Oct. 21, 2009.

The previous bridge was destroyed by an IED, and many pieces sank into the path of the new bridge.

"The Iraqis were building this bridge and they hit something hard under the water and had to stop," said Sgt. 1st Class Brett Boyer, master diver of the 86th EDT. "They contacted Multi-National Force West [MNF-W] and explained that they didn't have the capability to clear the waterway. The [U.S.] Army offered to help."

The divers were tasked with traveling to Iraq from Kuwait to assess the construction site and clear the debris.

"Along with other debris they found a pontoon, similar to the ones supporting the temporary bridge, that would need to be removed," said Sgt. Maj. Frost, operations sergeant major, 115th Fires Brigade.

Frost and other leaders from the 115th FiB were invited to visit the operation site to see the dive team in action.

Once the dive team has completed their task of clearing the waterway, the project will be turned back over to the Iraqi's so they can finish constructing the bridge.

This project shows that while U.S. forces are conducting a Strategic Withdrawal from Iraq, the military continues to support the local government and help them succeed.

"This helps the Iraqi's further develop their highways and will improve commerce," said Boyer. "You can't drive big trucks across a river without a strong bridge."

Connected Media