Photo By Sgt. Michael Tuttle | Staff Sgt. Cedric Stevenson, platoon sergeant, 3rd Battery, 7th Field Artillery...... read more read more
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By Sgt. Michael Tuttle
5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
KIRKUK, Iraq - Artillery Soldiers visited two oil-gas separation plants in Janbar Thursday to check on the progress of the Oil Protection Forces guarding the pipelines south of Kirkuk.
The OPF, funded by the Iraqi Ministry of Oil, guard the infrastructure that keeps the oil flowing in the area.
Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 3rd Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, met with the OPF to learn how to help them become a stronger force. The 3-7 Soldiers make themselves available to assist with training, supplies and for guidance.
"If they need anything, we help them get it and get it to them," said Staff Sgt. Cedric Stevenson, platoon sergeant.
In response to previous discussions with the OPF, a guard tower funded by Coalition Forces was built at one of the plants. At another, Soldiers helped build a kitchen, improving conditions for the protection forces who guard the plants 24 hours a day.
"The OPF are the ones out here every day guarding these plants," Stevenson said. "We'll do anything we can to help make them stronger."
The economic benefits of the gas-oil separation plants are imperative to the region's success, said Stevenson. And with the insurgent threat to the local infrastructure, the OPF's ability to guard the plants is vital.
"Anything we can offer to help these guys, anything to help them get better at what they do, we're willing to do that," Stevenson said.
| Date Taken: | 01.17.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 01.17.2007 08:39 |
| Story ID: | 8821 |
| Location: | KIRKUK, IQ |
| Web Views: | 792 |
| Downloads: | 692 |
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