Combat engineers support Iraqi self-sustainment

Mar 10, 2009 (DEFENSE DEPARTMENT DOCUMENTS AND PUBLICATIONS/ContentWorks via COMTEX) -- APHJF | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- BAGHDADI, Iraq -- The Marines of 1st Platoon, Alpha Company, 9th Engineer Support Battalion, completed a month-long construction project in Baghdadi, Iraq, Feb. 25, 2009, in support of the Military Transition Team 0720.

The MiTTs mission in Baghdadi is to provide logistical advisement to the 27th Brigade, 7th Iraqi Army Division, on how to function as a unit without the U.S. military's constant physical presence.

Before the project was finished, the MiTT was living and working in the Iraqi Army's facilities. Second Lt. Michael V. Butler, 1st Platoon commander, said the completion of the project allows the Iraqis to occupy their own camp while still giving Marines access to assist with the IA's mission of achieving complete independence from Coalition forces.

"This MiTT facility is [designed] to get Iraqis working on their own," Butler said. "This [particular] Iraqi battalion is Category 1, which means they can operate on their own with little advisement."

For Iraqi soldiers to be recognized as a Category 1 unit, they must be capable of planning, executing and sustaining counter insurgency operations without direct U.S. involvement.

Butler explained that even though they will now be living separately, the Marines will still be able to advise the Iraqi soldiers and provide the minimal supervision that was still needed. He said they would also continue to form closer bonds by exchanging cultural ideas and customs.

The construction project consisted of installing two hygiene trailers, a fuel point, barriers and laying a parking lot. The ESB also built three super Southwest Asia (SWA) huts that will be used for a chow hall and working spaces, and 11 additional SWA huts that will be used for a laundry facility, berthing, a gym, and a phone and internet center.

Sgt. Grant Sherman, platoon sergeant for 1st Platoon, said the MiTT would be completely self-sustaining with the new facility.

"By us building this camp, the MiTT will be separate from the Iraqi Army," he said. "The MiTT wants to work hand-in-hand, but independently."

Butler explained that his Marines pre-fabricated everything for the SWA huts from the walls to the floor boards and trusses.

"They did a great job," he said. "It went up quickly C it was like an erector set. At this point in the deployment, it's like clockwork. It takes minimal supervision [for my Marines to get the job done.]"

From building trench lines to route repairs, bunkers to SWA huts, 1st Platoon has a significant amount of construction experience in completing a wide variety of projects. Regardless of the large number of projects his Marines have completed, Butler said it is important his Marines deliver a high quality product in order to ensure other Marines have the appropriate facilities to support the Iraqi Army.

"It's all about Marines helping Marines," he said. "We make it as nice and practical as possible because Marines are going to be living in it. I know I'd appreciate the same done for me."

As MiTT 0720 continues to advise Iraqi soldiers on improving their logistical capabilities, the construction of the new facilities will help them do so as they support the Iraqi Army's number one goal -- to independently keep their people secure and free from the threats of terrorism.

For more information on the ongoing mission in Iraq's Al Anbar province, visit www.iimefpublic.usmc.mil/iimeffwd.

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