Story and Photos by SGT Julie Nicolov, MNC-I PAO
CAMP VICTORY, Iraq -- They are a quiet company, standing at strict attention for a briefing from their commander, Maj. Elhan Salbuzov. The moment he releases them, the ones on detail run silently to their posts. The ones on a later shift erupt into a flurry of Azuri, the official language of Azerbijan.
The company-size element is the only Azerbijanian unit in Iraq, but their mission to guard and defend Haditha Dam is critical.
Haditha Dam is a clean hydropower plant with six turbine engines putting out 660 megawatts of power at full capacity.
It can hold 8.2 million cubic meters of water, making it one of the five largest dams in the Middle East, according to www.dams.org.
The dam's location, as well as its importance to the survival of the Iraqi people, means that the Azerbijan soldiers must remain vigilant at all times. The dam is located in the Al Anbar Province, between the city of Ramadi and the Syrian border.
"They are working in a very dangerous situation, probably one of the most dangerous situations in the country," said Maj. Gen. Mario Marioli, deputy commanding general, Coalition Operations, Multi-National Corps -- Iraq.
Army Rangers secured the dam on April 1, 2003 to keep Iraqi insurgents from using it as an unconventional weapon of mass destruction, according to www.globalsecurity.org.
If the insurgents had gained control of the dam and blew it up, the lost electricity, water supply, and flooding of the nearby cities Haditha and Ramadi would have been catastrophic.
However, under the watchful eyes of Azerbijanian soldiers, Haditha Dam reached full operational power in June 2004. It was the first time all six turbines worked since 1990.
Haditha Dam is a vital asset to the future of Iraq. Protecting it is a tall order for a country the size of Maine.
"We secure this area from all points: west, south, east and north," said Cpt. Osef Qijbadov, logistics officer, Azerbijan Company.
The Azerbijanian soldiers, know as AZs by U.S. troops, free up the Marine reservists of 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment from Ohio to patrol and protect the surrounding town.
"The Marines patrol the area at all times of the day. We secure their armory, supplements and personnel," Qijbadov added.
In addition to manning outposts and securing the cogs that make daily life on the dam run smoothly, some Azerbijanian soldiers, who affectionately refer to themselves as "Spider Company," make their presence known under the dam as well.
"There are underground tunnels here, and our guys patrol them day and night," Qijbadov said. "We secure them to make sure no insurgents put mines there."
Approximately 800 local workers keep the dam maintained and operational.
"Some peaceful Iraqis are still working here, and we check them in the mornings at the checkpoint," Qijbadov said.
Before they deployed to Iraq, the Azerbijanian soldiers trained in their home country for six months.
Upon arrival at Haditha Dam, they immediately applied what they learned, earning the admiration of their commander.
"I think all of them conduct their mission well," Salbuzov said.