Military support element closes-out mission in Basra

Photo By Spc. Andrew Slovensky | Soldiers of the 414th Civil Affairs Battalion, 352nd Civil Affairs Command, stand in formation after an awards ceremony on Contingency Operating Base Basra, Oct. 9.  

BASRA, IRAQ

10.17.2011

Story by Pvt. Andrew Slovensky 

362nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

COB BASRA, Iraq – Soldiers with the 414th Civil Affairs Battalion, 352nd Civil Affairs Command, recently redeployed from Contingency Operating Base Basra.

These reservists made up the military support element, whose mission was to support the U.S. Department of State in leading the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Basrah province. In July, the PRT transitioned to the U.S. Consulate General in preparation for the drawdown of U.S. troops.

“Our mission was to help rebuild the infrastructure within Basrah province in particular … to assist the State Department in accomplishing their mission,” said 1st Lt. Raymond Bixler, officer-in-charge of the consulate tactical operations center. The mission was to assist the State Department in the transition from a military operation to a diplomatic mission, he added.

It was a civil affairs mission guided towards assisting and advising the State Department, said Col. Lavore Richmond, commander for the military support element. “We provided them with security when needed; we provided them with red zone pick ups for the escorting of key leaders from the Iraqi government.”

The military support element was also instrumental in programs that focused on improving the infrastructure of Basrah, Maysan, Muthanna, and Dhi Qar provinces.

“A lot of the PRT projects were in economics, dealing with incoming commerce projects; we did some women’s initiatives where women were given opportunities to get funding for small businesses,” said Richmond.

The PRT worked with the provincial governor to help improve essential services and U.S.-Iraq relations, said Richmond.

These programs relied on money provided by the Commander’s Discretionary Fund and Commander’s Emergency Response Program, said Bixler. “All the CERP projects within Basrah province went through us,” he said. “We used that money to refurbish schools, build a school, drill a well, build a water treatment plant, whatever needs to be done.”

Now that U.S. Forces are leaving Iraq, the reconstruction efforts in the southern provinces will be led by the consulate here, and focus on developing stronger ties with the Iraqi people.

“We knew we were working ourselves out of a job,” said Richmond. “It’s bittersweet seeing it come to an end, knowing we are the last ones.”

• Date Taken: 10.17.2011
• Date Posted: 10.17.2011 09:56
• Story ID: 78601
• Location: BASRA, IQ