Photo By Cpl. M. M. Bravo | Lance Cpl. Josh G. Nickell, a combat engineer with 1st Platoon, Alpha Company, 9th...... read more read more
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BAGHDAD, Iraq - The Marines of 1st Platoon, Alpha Company, 9th Engineer Support Battalion, completed a month-long construction project in Baghdadi, Iraq, Feb. 25, to support the mission of Military Transition Team 0720.
The MiT Team's mission in Baghdadi is to provide logistical advisement to the Iraqi army 27th Brigade, 7th Iraqi Army Division, on how to function as a unit without the U.S. military's constant physical presence.
Before the project was finished, the MiT Team was living and working in the Iraqi army's facilities. Second Lt. Michael V. Butler, 1st Platoon commander, said the completion of the project allows the Iraqis to occupy their own camp while still giving Marines access to assist with the IA's mission of achieving complete independence from Coalition forces.
"This MiTT facility is [designed] to get Iraqis working on their own," Butler said. "This [particular] Iraqi battalion is Category 1, which means they can operate on their own with little advisement."
For Iraqi soldiers to be recognized as a Category 1 unit, they must be capable of planning, executing and sustaining counter insurgency operations. At this point, the IA unit is classified as the Iraqi army in the Lead.
Butler explained that the Marines would be able to provide minor supervision still needed to advise the Iraqi soldiers. He said they will continue to form closer bonds and exchange cultural ideas and customs with the Iraqis, even though they will be living and working separately in the newly constructed buildings.
The project consisted of installing two hygiene trailers, laying a parking lot, a fuel point and barriers. The ESB also built three super outhwest Asian (SWA) huts that will be used for a chow hall and working spaces, and 11 additional SWA huts that will be used for a laundry facility, berthing, a gym, and a phone and internet center.
Sgt. Grant Sherman, platoon sergeant for 1st Platoon, said similar to the way his platoon works, the MiTT team would be completely self-sustaining with the new facility.
"By us building this camp, the MiTT team will be separate from the Iraqi Army," he said. "The MiTT team wants to work hand-in-hand, but independently."
Butler explained that his Marines pre-fabricated everything for the SWA huts, from the walls, to the floor boards and trusses.
"They did a great job," he said. "It went up quickly ... it was like an erector set. At this point in the deployment, it's like clockwork. It takes minimal supervision [for my Marines to get the job done.]"
From building trench lines to route repairs, bunkers to SWA huts, 1st Platoon has a significant amount of construction experience in completing a wide variety of projects. Regardless of the large number of projects his Marines have completed, Butler said it is important his Marines deliver a high quality product in order to ensure other Marines have the appropriate facilities to support the Iraqi army.
"It's all about Marines helping Marines," he said. "We make it as nice and practical as possible because Marines are going to be living in it. I know I'd appreciate the same done for me."
As MiT Team 0720 continues to advise Iraqi soldiers on improving their logistical capabilities, the construction of the new facilities will help them do so as they support the Iraqi Army's number one goal - to independently keep their people secure and free from the threats of terrorism.
For more information on the ongoing mission in Iraq's Al Anbar province, visit www.iimefpublic.usmc.mil/iimeffwd.
| Date Taken: | 03.09.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 03.09.2009 16:41 |
| Story ID: | 30914 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 359 |
| Downloads: | 336 |
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