The Pishkhabor Project: Engineers, Civil Affairs and Iraqis Build the Future

Photo By Spc. Richard Vogt | Iraqi workers in Pishkabor lay the foundation for a new barracks building that will house Iraqi Army soldiers who guard the border with Syria and Turkey. (Army hoto/Spc. Richard Vogt)  

DOHUK, IRAQ

02.09.2006

Courtesy Story

345th Public Affairs Detachment

Story and photo by Spc. Richard Vogt
138TH Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

DOHUK, Iraq (Jan. 17, 2006) -- In this northern province, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District and Company B, 401st Civil Affairs Battalion, laid some foundations of nation-building by improving living and working conditions for the Iraqi Army Soldiers who guard Iraq's Syrian and Turkish borders.

"The Pishkhabor Project", commonly referred to by U.S. military and civilian workers and local Iraqis, is a renovated regional training compound for the 104th Iraqi Army Battalion.

The project is a monumental undertaking in both labor and money according to Derek Walker, a civilian with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District, is the project's quality control and construction manager. "A water pumping pipeline, barracks housing, an administration building, a motor pool, a landing airstrip for helicopters, and two abandoned Russian castle renovations, which are basically the border forts."

Mr. Walker drove to the compound on a sunny day to check the pace of construction. Recent heavy rains collapsed some of the foundations, setting work back by a day.

Sgt. John Tyvela and Sgt. Matthew Mullally, Co. B, 401st CA Bn, traveled with Mr. Walker on the trip.

Both sergeants learned from a senior Iraqi military leader that the 104th Battalion needed an upgraded compound. After conferring with the battalion, Sgt's Tyvela and Mullally were on a mission to secure funding for the "Pishkhabor Project."

They discovered civil affairs money for reconstruction was tied up in other military projects.

Undaunted, they searched for alternative ways to get funding for renovation of the military compound project. That was when they teamed up with Mr. Walker. The Corps of Engineers told the two civil affairs Soldiers that it had money for this project and gave them the green light.

The two Soldiers and the engineer designed the renovation project based on the needs described by the Iraqi military. The battalion officers told the U.S. team they needed more living quarters, an administration building, motor pool, and a landing strip. In addition, if there was a sufficient amount of money, the battalion wanted to renovate two old Russian castles overlooking Syria and Turkey.

In addition to the Pishkhabor compound, Walker, Tyvela, and Mullally are involved in four other projects in northern Iraq, all military posts.

"I love it, I love the work," Mr. Walker said. "I like working here. This office is involved in more than 100 projects. We had the honor of doing the 1000th [total] project in Iraq."

When the compound renovation is completed, it will house more than 2000 Iraqi soldiers.

"We are extremely proud and pleased that we were able to facilitate this construction project for the Iraqi Army," stated Sgt. Mullally. "They have been living in very crowded conditions. The new construction and renovations will give them enough space a Soldier is entitled to. The rest of the compound can serve as a model for the rest of the country."

• Date Taken: 02.09.2006
• Date Posted: 02.09.2006 11:54
• Story ID: 5349
• Location: DOHUK, IQ