Oldest National Guard unit builds operations center with youngest Iraqi Army division

Photo By Sgt. Tracy Knowles | U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Jacob Della Pia, of Manistee, Mich., 1434th Engineer Company, 101st Eng. Battalion, applies sheeting to the side of the new Command Division Operations Center on Joint Service Station Deason. The 101st Eng. Bn., has helped 17th Iraqi army engineers become a self-sufficient asset to their new division by teaching them some basic carpentry skills.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

03.20.2010

Story by Sgt. Tracy Knowles 

101st Engineer Battalion

BAGHDAD — A choreographed symphony of sounds, a plethora of smells, and the beautiful blue sky painted above, creates a well-orchestrated partnership between 101st Engineer Battalion, "The Oldest in the Nation," and 17th IA, the youngest division in the Iraqi Army, on Joint Service Station Deason March 20.

Soldiers of 1434th Eng. Company, 101st Eng. Bn., have been working with the Soldiers of 17th IA to build a new Command Division Operation Center. When complete, the CDOC will hold 6 private offices and enough space for 17th IA operations equipment and personnel.

In less than one week the structure, which is 45ft x 65ft, is already in the wiring stage and the roof is being placed. The U.S. and IA Soldiers have worked many long days together, allowing them to be ahead of the scheduled completion date.

When the job started the Iraqi engineers were untrained on carpentry skills. After some training and some encouragement the IA soldiers are now able to work with little guidance from the U.S. Soldiers. The skills the IA soldiers have acquired not only will help them on future projects here on JSS Deason, but also give them the ability to assemble simple household furniture out of scrap wood, like medicine cabinets with latches to keep their small children safer at home.

"We took an afternoon and taught them some basic skills and safety, we also taught them how to build simple furniture, now we can't get them to stop and take break," said Spc. Daryl Kujat, 1434th Eng. Company.

The partnership has gone so well that higher ranking officers of the 17th IA stop by the job site to see the hard working soldiers and the quick progress of the building.

With two young lieutenants in charge, the CDOC building has come along with no major snags. The lieutenants are proud of their men, all of whom are working well together despite the language barriers.

"What's amazing about these soldiers is they are always ready to work and always on time, their discipline and mannerism are much like ours," said 2nd Lt. Jacob Della Pia, of Manistee, Mich., 1434th officer in charge, "all of these soldiers were excited to learn and interact with American Soldiers, I couldn't have asked for a better group of guys".

Lt. Ali Hadi, OIC for the 17th IA, explained: "It is an honor to work with the Americans, my men will always be able to talk about this as part of their history, the Soldiers' pride and confidence has grown tremendously."

The completion of this project will bring a partnership that will be a part of the 101st Engineers' historical lineage and a strong building that will stand for many years, helping yield many successful future Iraqi missions.

• Date Taken: 03.20.2010
• Date Posted: 03.29.2010 19:07
• Story ID: 47414
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ