139TH REGIONAL SUPPORT GROUP CULTIVATES INSTITUTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH BASE CAMP MASTER PLAN

TAJI, IRAQ

03.14.2018

Story by 1st Lt. Darren Herring 

Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve   

Taji Military Complex, Iraq – The Louisiana National Guard’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company 139th Regional Support Group is working with the Iraqi Army to develop a base camp master plan for Taji Military Complex located in Taji, Iraq.

The plan focuses on improving sewage treatment, landfill operations, office and billeting facilities, roads and electrical distribution for the welfare of the Iraqi security forces, students and tenants located on Taji Military Complex.

Lt. Col. Thomas Turner, Deputy Commander for the 139th RSG, discussed how his personal experiences with the Louisiana State Partnership Program prepared him in supporting the base camp master plan and expressed the importance of institutional relationships.
“In the Louisiana SPP, I spent a great deal of time visiting with our partners in Belize and Haiti,” said Turner. “Having the commanding general in Belize greet me on a first name basis is very similar to me visiting with the Iraqi security forces and garrison here at Taji. In both meetings, I am greeted as a friend which in turn cultivates an institutional relationship that fosters growth and development. The understanding of these institutional relationships has prepared me in supporting the base camp master plan.”
Since December 2017, the 139th RSG has met with the Iraqi garrison and base security, commanders of the Engineer School, Signal School, and 9th Iraqi Division. Additionally, the 139th RSG were able to assist the Iraqi government in fixing a ZBV Backscatter van at no cost to the United States government, provide vulnerability assessments at the Iraqi entrance gate and foster positive engagements with senior military leaders and Iraqi government officials.
“The environment here is very complex which poses a challenge in collecting enough information to understand everything that is going on,” said Turner. “Having relationships with the Iraqi senior military leaders and security forces bridges that information gap. As a result, we are able to focus on maintaining security and safety for the entire complex which include the coalition forces operating within the amber and green zones.”
Taji Military Complex is comprised of many nations from the Coalition Joint Task Force as well as civilians, contractors, and NATO forces. The goal of the 139th RSG is to support services on the base and expand partner capacity through infrastructure improvements to ensure that ISF soldiers and students have the proper environment to flourish in both the present and the future.
“Much like the Louisiana National Guard, the Iraqi Army must be ready, responsive and reliable to be always ready, always there,” said Turner. “By improving the quality of life on the base, ISF soldiers and students will be able to train to be ready to defend their country, responsive in the event of an emergency and reliable to be available when needed to protect what matters.”
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• Date Taken: 03.14.2018
• Date Posted: 03.16.2018 04:31
• Story ID: 269443
• Location: TAJI, IQ