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.