Courtesy Photo | Staff Maj. Gen. Tariq Abd Al-Wahb Jasim Mahdi Al-Azzawi, from the Diyala Operation...... read more read more
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By Spc. Ry Norris
DIYALA, Iraq — For some, gone are the days of beginning work at 4 a.m. or working during extreme weather conditions. After months of sweat and hard work, a team of 62 individuals can rest. The Combined Operations and Intelligence Center is complete.
The grand opening of the COIC took place, Jan. 10, at Forward Operating Base Kameesh. A team comprised of 10 Soldiers from the 5th Iraqi Army Field Engineer Regiment, 50 Soldiers from the Headquarters Headquarters, 37th Engineer Battalion, Vertical Construction Platoon, and two Iraqi interpreters, were responsible for the construction of the COIC.
"The Soldiers worked together and conducted cross-training on carpentry and masonry skills during construction of a 30-by-70 foot concrete masonry block building," said Sgt. 1st Class Brian A. Money, the platoon sergeant and Denver, Colo., native.
The engineers worked quickly to build the COIC from the ground up, as U.S. Soldiers demonstrated to the Iraqis how to reinforce the masonry blocks. The engineers used careful planning and made precise cuts to preserve structural integrity. Two battalion inspectors from the 37th Engineer Battalion periodically inspected the quality of the building.
A truss jig was created to use as a template for the 35 trusses required for the roof. A truss is the backbone of the roof system. The team was able to build 35 trusses in two days. It took a day to install the corrugated steel; thus completing the roof system. Without the truss jig, the COIC would have taken an extra week to complete.
During the construction of the COIC, a bond was forged between the engineers and Iraqis as they worked side by side each day. The U.S. and Iraqi Soldiers had lunch and chai tea together every day. They exchanged laughs and stories.
"The biggest impact the partnership had on all the paratroopers was the ability to convey to the Iraqi soldiers the American standard for concrete construction," said Money.
Now that the COIC is complete, it can be used for its intended purpose. "The main objective of the COIC is to assist the Iraqi army in establishing enduring systems that will enable them to command and control and maintain situational awareness in their areas of operation," said Maj. David Szymanski, the 5th Iraqi Army Division COIC team chief with the military intelligence team.
| Date Taken: | 01.30.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 01.30.2010 19:43 |
| Story ID: | 44666 |
| Location: | DIYALA PROVINCE, IQ |
| Web Views: | 341 |
| Downloads: | 223 |
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