News>Army, Air Force engineers drop hammers to teach
Photos
GALIBIYAH, Iraq -- Air Force Staff Sgt. Joseph Jaganathan, a structural journeyman assigned to the Air Force’s 732nd Expeditionary Civil Engineers Squadron, but attached to the Army's 37th Engineer Battalion, reviews tactical operations center floor plans with Iraqi Army Lt. Kusave here Sept. 3, 2009. The project, conducted Sept. 1-21, was a joint/coalition operation in which Soldiers and Airmen taught members of the Iraqi Army new engineering techniques. (Photo by Army Spc. Naveed Ali Shah)
GALIBIYAH, Iraq -- Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the Fort Bragg-based 37th Engineer Battalion helped the Iraqi Army take a step toward self-sustainment by teaching them new engineering techniques during a joint/coalition project here Sept. 1-21. (Photo by Army Spc. Naveed Alishah)
by Army Spc. Naveed Ali Shah
13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)
10/6/2009 - GALIBIYAH, Iraq -- Soldiers and Airmen from the Fort Bragg-based 37th Engineers Battalion helped the Iraqi Army take a big step toward self-sustainment by teaching them new engineering techniques during a project at Galibiyah Sept. 1 through 21.
Galibiyah is home to the Iraqi Army's 5th Field Engineer Regiment. The Vertical Construction Platoon, 37th Eng. Bn., helped the Iraqi's build their tactical operations center there.
"Working in partnership with the 5th FER, we taught them to build Southwest Asian huts, which is basically just a wood-frame build," said 1st Lt. Courtenay W. Cullen, the Vertical Construction Platoon leader, with the 37th Eng. Bn.
The electricians, plumbers and carpenters of the platoon could have finished the construction in roughly week, but they constantly pause to teach and train their Iraqi counterparts, as well, said Cullen, a Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., native.
"Not only do they learn how to build with our tools, but they are learning how to lead a construction site," she said. "They learn our leadership style, the way we manage a project, and that we rely on the noncommissioned officer corps in order to (supervise the project)."
The Army and Air Force engineers teamed up, bringing different sets of knowledge and expertise to the project.
"Everyone brings their own expertise and it's great," said Air Force Staff Sgt. Joseph J. Jaganathan, a structural journeyman who is assigned to the Air Force's 732nd Expeditionary Civil Engineers Squadron, but attached to the 37th Eng. Bn.
"We're just trying to teach them a way to do it, not the way to do it," said Jaganathan, a Washington native.
Joint partnerships help build the capacity for the Iraqi Army to execute operations in support of the Iraqi Security Forces and the government of Iraq, said 1st Lt. Chad M. Livingston, military transition team leader, 37th Eng.
"Building relationships of trust, of genuine partnership, will go a long way to help each other in the future," said Livingston, a Lee's Summit, Mo., native.
As the U.S. moves ever closer to the complete withdrawal of forces from Iraq, small projects such as this one play a big role in getting the Iraqi Security Forces on their own two feet, a fact highlighted by Brig. Gen. Robert A. Harris, commanding general, 194th Engineer Brigade.
Harris said, "Even though the faces come and go, the processes and standards stay the same, so by teaching them now, they will benefit far into the future."
