Construction in Iraq

I haven't posted for awhile. Got pretty busy with the work, and I have to find a computer that will let me post to the blog. Anyways here a few pictures of around the base and some of the construction we have been doing. This is just an old Iraqi MIG fighter that is currently in our gravel pits. The Iraqi air force left in a hurry.

This is our concrete batch plant. It is very modern in Iraq, but no where near what is in the states. This is where we make our concrete for our projects on the base. Off in the distance is some of Al Asad Air Base.

This is a picture of the front door to the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq. I had the opportunity to come visit here and see the palace that the Embassy is located in. It is huge inside. Lots of decorative art with brass and gold.

Here is the Oasis located behind the U.S. Embassy. This is where all the diplomats and officials get to relax after traveling around Iraq. Pretty nice for the area.

This is our contractor pouring some concrete. The back their dump trucks up and just dump the concrete out and let the paver do the work. We are pouring a aircraft apron for C-5's to park and unload. It has to be done soon for the redeployment of troops.

Al Asad (New Area)

I have moved to a new area. I am now the OIC of the Resident Office in Al Asad Air Base. It is a very good job and know I will enjoy it. There is a good group of engineers with a lot of good projects.







This is a front view of Haditha Dam. It is what provides a vast majority of the electricity to the area and Baghdad. It was built by the Czechs over 20 years ago, so we are trying to help the Ministry here learn how to maintain and operate it properly. It has a great view of the surrounding area.






Here is an informal turnover between the outgoing OIC and me. I have the watch now.








This is inside the dam. The turbines are very large, nothing compared to stateside turbines, and commonly have problems.












This is a new air strip runway we are putting in at the air base. We are doing several improvement projects for the air base that probably will have more traffic in the future. It is difficult at best to ensure the quality of work is up to standards.










These were the children at a local school project. We are building a 6 classroom school for these children that don't seem to be going to school at this time. I bring candy for them everytime so they look forward to us each time we roll up.












A vehicle born improvised explosive device (VBIED) ran into this part of the hospital and burned down most of it. We are in the process of having one of our contractors repair it.













This is the local hospital in the region. It is the largest one, and as you can see it isn't even close to the size of one of our street side local clinics in the state. The health care here isn't very good, but we are trying to construct better facilities for them.

This is what remains of a tank that was left on Camp Baharia. It looks like it never worked properly for them and they abandoned it. Must have been scared for what was to come.







This is an APC used by the Iraqi Military. It had quite a few holes in it from gunfire. Must have seen better days.








This is a junk yard as far as the eye can see. It is what remains of all the junk that was destroyed around Fallujah. This would be a recycler's dream.







This is what we call a REVA. It is made in South Africa and is heavily armored. A team member from Aegis protects us as we go out. Check out the two gun turrets on top. Pretty nice to be in these.





In the distance you will see a Marine Osprey. They fly right over my living area. I should be riding in one soon, so I am looking forward to it.

This was my first day in Camp Fallujah, Iraq. This is the welcome sign to the base. There isn't very much here at the base now.








I am dressed in the flame retardant suit (tan flight suit) that is used on all convoys to the different sites. It is really comfortable, wish it was a uniform I could wear on the job in the states.







This is our office building in Camp Fallujah. It is a double wide trailer. Atleast it has air conditioning.







This is the trailer that I live in. It is 2 people to a trailer with each of us getting our own room. It is very nice considering what everyone else gets. We also get a bathroom inside.







This is a scenic picture of where we are moving too. It used to be a resort called Dreamland in Iraq. I guess there were bodies in the lake that they now have removed.







One of the Aegis guys that I work with securing the perimeter. These guys are good at their job.








We are visiting at site. The site consists of a bridge that was blown up and we are repairing it. It is a very good project to help the community around here.






Another picture of visiting sites. You can see our Aegis team that surrounds us is very good at keeping us safe.

Army Corp of Engineers Baghdad

This is one of Sadam's Palaces. I think it is the one that he was a prisoner in while he was on trial according to one of the guards. Must have taken alot of work to do it.







This is one of the armored transport carriers that people use to move around iraq. You can see a gun turret on top of it in case it needs to deal some death.






This the DFAC or cafeteria that I eat at during my meals. The roof on top is suppose to stop incoming rockets. Haven't had to see that yet luckily.






This the army corp living conditions in Baghdad. Not bad huh. It is actually one of the nicest places to stay in the military while in Baghdad so that is a lucky thing for me.








Just thought I would throw in a picture I had on my camera of my little buddy. He is helping me with my tools.

Iraq

Here is our 46 man group flying on a C-130 headed for Baghdad. It was packed and not very comfortable. As you can see we are in our body armor and the seats are basically cargo straps. It was only an hour long flight but it seemed like 10.






Now you can see how excited I am to be riding in a C-130. I am ready to get to my job and start working.








Here I am in Baghdad at the Al Faw Palace. This is where Sadam did alot of his work. It is quite the complex he had at his disposal. I can imagine it was pretty awesome before the war. Now it looks alittle war torn.






This is inside the palace. It is amazing. Great design and craftsmanship for this area. Most buildings are no where close to being as nice as the palace. You can see the leader of this country didn't care about anyone but himself.





This was one of Sadam's chairs that he sat in. Alittle to big for me, except it would be nice for Sunday night football sitting with my wife and some snacks.

KUWAIT

Here are the tents we lived in while staying in Kuwait. They are air conditioned, but during mid day it is still 100 degrees inside of tent with air conditioning. I believe the first day I was here it was 127 degrees.






Here we are getting ready for our training out in the desert. I am getting ready to eat an MRE. Yum! Atleast they have heaters. My favorite MRE was the tuna, because it was real tuna for a sandwich or something. The worst one was beef stew. Don't know what was in it, but it wasn't beef.





Here is what we stayed in while camping in the middle of the desert. It was about 135 degrees, but with no humidity it wasn't as bad as I thought. I drank about 4 liters of water a day to stay hydated.






This was inside the building. We all slept inside together and then would wake up around 3 am. So many people, not much sleep.







Here is our convoy training. My humvee is behind us. It is armored and ready to go. It was actually pretty fun to go driving around in the middle of the desert. We passed a herd of camels, but couldn't get out to take pictures due to training.

Leaving for Kuwait

Leaving Camp McCrady at Fort Jackson for the airport. We are all ready to leave and start our next evolution of training.








Here is the airplance as we are getting ready to get on. Our flight was a total of 22 hrs to get to Kuwait. We stopped in Germany on the way to get a taste of a dreamful climate.







This was the hanger we were staged in until we were about to get on the airplane. Some volunteer veterans and kids from schools came out to give us some care packages and shake our hands. It was pretty nice of them.

Training at Fort Jackson

This is Camp McCrady near Fort Jackson. This is my view every morning when I wake up. That is the drill pad where we form up and get our daily schedule.

This is in full battle "rattle" while shooting at the range. We had to carry this around with us during shooting and training so we could get used to before we head over to the middle east. It was pretty heavy.

Spent 3 weeks at FT Jackson for training purposes before going to Iraq. There are several pictures that show us using the range for shooting practice and qualifications.

We actually had one day were we got to shoot some of the big guns. This was me shooting a 5omm machine gun. We hit an old tank and put some holes in it.

This was our stress shoot. We got out of hummers and then had to run to the range and shoot targets while were tired and on the move. It was a good exercise for combat situations.

First Week Departure from NMPS Norfolk

Here is a picture of our bus ride from Norfolk, VA down to Fort Jackson, SC. Training is about to start.