Engineers beef up security

Photo By Sgt. Tracy Knowles | U.S. engineers with the 277th Engineer Company, 101st Engineer Battalion, 225th Engineer Brigade, fill Hesco barriers with dirt on the perimeter of Forward Operating Base Hammer, Oct. 9. Hescos are designed similar to very large paper bags encased in metal meshing to hold fill dirt. They serve primary as perimeters to bases in Iraq. The 277th along with the 1192nd Eng. Co., of Ravenna, Ohio, are building up the inside perimeter of FOB Hammer.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

10.11.2009

Story by Sgt. Tracy Knowles 

Multi-National Division Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Since signing the status of forces agreement between the U.S. and Iraq, American forces have begun drawing back to bases outside city limits.

To safeguard the massive amount of troop movements throughout the country, building up security to bases is a job suited to U.S. engineers.

Wincing at the approaching day's light, Soldiers of the 277th Engineer Company, from San Antonio, Texas, and the 1192nd Engineer Company from Ravenna, Ohio, both under the 101st Engineer Battalion, 225th Engineer Brigade, focused on the Hesco barrier mission at Forward Operating Base Hammer, here, Oct. 9.

Hesco barriers are collapsible wire mesh containers that include fabric liner to hold within sand, soil or rocks. They provide added internal blast protection and prevent breaching of external defense walls.

Because of this, the 277th engineer's mission expanded into a project larger than anticipated. The mission's focus broadened from internal defense construction to building up the external walls as well.

"[The 277th] is in charge of interior Hescos. We started the initial push to build the exterior walls and now the 1192nd came out to help us set them up," said 1st Lt. Ryan O'Connor, 277th Eng. Co., of Dallas, Texas.

Overall, the mission is continuing on schedule. While the harsh desert environment is taking a toll on the vehicles and Soldiers, unit morale is still upbeat.

"Hammer is a good place for Soldiers to learn how to operate construction equipment, particularly without fear of enemy contact," added O'Conner.

The project is scheduled to be complete by the end of November. The total project at FOB Hammer will produce almost eight miles of perimeter wall construction.

• Date Taken: 10.11.2009
• Date Posted: 10.11.2009 09:17
• Story ID: 39948
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ