Sgt. Blake Kent
22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
USAR: FORWARD OPERATING BASE BRASSFIELD-MORA, SAMARRA, Iraq -- The four-man civil affairs team from Forward Operating Base Brassfield-Mora patrols the city of Samarra and the surrounding villages, aiding in the reconstruction of Iraqi public utilities and offices.
"The overall intent of our mission is to disengage the military by getting the Iraqi government and people back on their feet," said Capt. Rod McCauley of Niantic, Conn., 411th Civil Affairs Battalion.
"The biggest thing we are doing is aiding in the transition from military control to civilian control."
The team oversees projects in Samarra, Al Huwaish, Al Qalaa, Al Somon and Al Ereqqa and has 41 projects currently in progress and another 45 that are already pending approval.
There has been roughly $24 million put into projects in and around the Samarra area over the past six months, said 1st Lt. Doug Maritato of Rockway, N.J., projects officer, 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor.
A normal patrol for the team consists of many stops, both visiting projects already in progress, other offices to see what supplies they need, and even more stops to scout out locations for new projects.
"We try and find out what kinds of things the people need to operate and then the next time we make patrols we try and bring it to them or provide them the money to get the materials on the local economy," Maritato said.
The team is able to help the government offices acquire small items, such as security locks and office materials, to larger project items, such as building repairs and vehicles.
One project, the Samarra Fire Station, is in need of fire-fighting equipment and more fire trucks.
"The station serves more than 200,000 people with only one working fire truck," McCauley said. "They are definitely going to need some help."
The civil affairs team is already working on getting the station breathing equipment, suits, axes and other needed tools.
The team makes trips into the city on a weekly basis, often taking fire from Anti-Iraqi Forces, but the Soldiers have yet to be deterred from their mission.
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