Sgt. David Bill
48th BCT Public Affairs Office
CAMP STRYKER, Iraq -- As morning broke June 18, Sgt. Jason Stanfield, 33, of Perry, Ga., a gunner in the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 48th Brigade Combat team's security platoon, prepared his humvee to roll out as part of the security element for the civil affairs officer, Lt. Col. Scott Carter, of Savannah, and other members of the CA project management team.
The Soldiers would be conducting a site visit to the first reverse-osmosis water treatment plant to be constructed in Iraq.
This security platoon assigned to the Civil Military Operations section is composed of Soldiers from the 48th BCT's Chemical Platoon who have trained to do a very different mission in Iraq than the one that many of them initially trained for.
The majority of the Soldiers in this platoon were trained as chemical specialists to conduct missions relating to chemical weapons and decontamination of equipment and personnel.
"I"d rather do this (the security mission) than chemical in this heat." said Spc. Ricky Taylor, 21, from Watkinsville, Ga., a gunner in the security platoon.
"The guys were up for the mission." Stanfield said. "They took to it well. They will be providing security for the project management team so they can do their job."
"He (Carter) identified a need and found a solution" said the project management team leader for the CMO, Capt. Joe Lynch of Sugar Hill, Ga. "Lt. Col. Carter realized that his plan was to conduct patrols and travel throughout the brigade's area of operations almost daily which required significant coordination to get the security detail and proper number of convoy vehicles for each day's activities.
His proposal was to train the chemical platoon to be a convoy security force attached to the Civil Military Operations team."
Once approved, the 16-member platoon went to work in January at Fort Stewart, Ga., developing a training plan to make (the Chemical platoon successful.
"They were eager to learn and take part in this mission" Lynch said, adding, "Since this is not a combat mission, our footprint around the Iraqi populace must be as small as possible."
That was evident during this first patrol as only 11 people and three vehicles were used, which included the members of the CA team and two other observers.
"These guys are alert to the idea of not causing any damage." Lynch said. "Today's mission was to visit the water treatment plant's construction site to see the progress that had been made to date."
The nearly $4.3 million project is being contracted through Iraqi companies, and the vendor for the equipment is GE Water and Processing Technologies.
More than $3.5 million of the projected funds have been allocated and much of the equipment is already headed for Iraq.
"This is Phase One of a project that will provide water to numerous villages who have not had a potable water supply previously." Lynch said. "Once irrigation is available, then Iraqis farmers can go back to farming and producing."
"Water is something we Americans take for granted. A drop of water means something over here," Stanfield said. "It makes you feel good to be helpful.
Working with the project management team can show the benefit of what the Army is giving back."
| Date Taken: |
07.11.2005 |
| Date Posted: |
07.11.2005 09:32 |
| Story ID: |
2346 |
| Location: |
BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: |
57 |
| Downloads: |
8 |
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