By Capt. LaRue Meehan
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
CAMP ECHO, Iraq – Civil military operations is a fairly new staff section, charged with conducting projects to support the essential needs of the people: water, electricity, sewage and trash services and other government services.
The CMO shop of the 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, is further adjusting to the changing dynamics of operations during the transition from U.S. forces to Iraqi control.
"In Diwaniyah, I have been working with the provincial reconstruction team to help the Iraqis develop systems that will enable their government to take care of their people," said 1st Lt. Keith Phelan, the 2-8th CMO officer.
The PRT is comprised of civilians from various specialties — State Department personnel and experts in infrastructure development, government, politics and law — who volunteered to deploy to Iraq and provide their knowledge to the government of Iraq.
The 2-8th CMO section integrated with the several brigade assets, including the PRT and civil affairs teams, in order to better grasp the level of infrastructure of the Qadisiya province, said Phelan.
The civil affairs team is comprised of four to six Soldiers that specialize in assessing services and executing projects to benefit the local population.
The cooperative efforts developed by the CMO shop enabled them to extend their reach and begin conducting assessments of the projects begun by the Polish Army prior to the arrival of U.S. forces. The projects have been focused primarily on building the infrastructure and increasing the education opportunities of the local population, Phelan added.