Something new from something old: Al Kasik
Story by Nicole Dalrymple
Gulf Region Northern District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
MOSUL, Iraq -- As part of the Iraqi military's ongoing effort to strengthen its forces, the Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq announced Feb. 5 that 212 direct replacement soldiers graduated from the Iraqi Training Battalion in Al Kasik. The recruits spent three weeks in a basic military skills refresher course with emphasis on the missions of traffic control points, local security patrols and fixed-site security.
Renovations and new construction have been ongoing at the Al Kasik Military Training Base for the past year. The $60 million project is establishing a permanent training base for the Iraqi military, as well as helping build Iraqi contractors' skills and providing a way for the local workforce to participate in the establishment of the country's security forces.
"Using local labor is a big part of the project's philosophy," said Kent Geis, Shaw Group's project manager. Shaw Group, the project's prime contractor, was awarded the first two phases of construction Jan. 28, 2004.
Shaw Group has been working with a local teaming partner who is responsible for coordinating and procuring local subcontractors, materials and labor for the project.
"We've been focused on partnering with Iraqi design-and-build construction firms and using Iraqi engineers for design-and-build contracts," Geis said. "We've been using local tradesmen, labor and manufacturing to enhance the local economy, provide training and upgrade the labor force's skills."
This has been important because with the combination of the former regime, the Iraq-Iran war and the United Nations' embargo, the Iraqi private sector's construction industry was reduced and under used, Geis said.
"Much of the construction labor force has worked very little, if at all, since 1992," he said. "Additionally, engineering skill sets and tools were at a 1980's level."
In fact, the original structures at Al Kasik weren't built by the Iraqi people. They were built by Yugoslavs in the late 1980's, said Tony Soliz, project construction representative with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Corps of Engineers is providing construction management and quality control.
The buildings, which were constructed using large pre-cast concrete panels that slide into place, forming the exterior and interior walls, were never completed.
"It is a sturdy construction," Soliz said. "Unfortunately, vandals came in and stripped all the buildings of doors, windows, electrical components, mechanical systems and plumping fixtures. All that was left was a shell. The perimeter fencing system was also removed.
"In order to offer a training area for the Iraqi military, Al Kasik had to be restored. Al Kasik is possibly the largest military training base in Iraq. The privates go through a 10-week training course, much like a boot camp. They learn basic soldiering skills, marching and marksmanship. They learn how to run checkpoints, do close-in drills, search buildings and do patrols. After graduation they are shipped out to their permanent stations."
This is Soliz's second deployment to Al Kasik. Initially he came over for a 120-day deployment, arriving in country the end of January 2004. After being home for the summer, he returned for a year deployment.
"I told certain people I would come back," he said, feeling ownership and responsibility to see the project through to completion.
Al Kasik has been one of the more challenging projects in Northern Iraq. Steady progress has been made since day one but it has been impacted by numerous difficulties associated with security in Iraq, Geis said. There have been threats, suicide bombers, small-arms fire and mortar attacks, ambushes, hijackings and murder.
"Transitioning into Iraq has been a unique experience and challenge for everyone," Geis said.
Since the U.S. military has outsourced most of its design and construction capability, this requires the private sector to work side-by-side with the military in peace, as well as wartime conflicts, he said.
"Our engineers and superintendents have had to adapt to the Iraqi construction methods and demonstrate standard construction methods to the local populace," he said. "In addition, the engineers have never had to think about security issues while completing construction tasks. It has required some adaptation on everyone's part."
The first two phases of construction awarded to Shaw Group included restoring and renovating the existing buildings and supplying temporary water and sanitation, as well as the construction of nine new projects.
A modification was issued April 15 of last year to design and build temporary power, a water treatment plant and distribution system and a waste water plant. The first two phases were completed and signed over to the Iraqi military on July 22. Even while renovations were taking place, the military was using the space and security forces were being trained.
Shaw was also awarded a third phase of construction April 15. This work was completed in September and now Shaw is currently working on modifications and additional work items at the base.
"The bulk of this work will be completed by the end of February," Geis said. "We anticipate being finished and demobilized by the end of March."
The Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence, a contracting agent for the government, has awarded three primary construction contracts for work at Al Kasik. The base's two medical clinics, the perimeter fence, shoot house, check point, permanent power and well drilling are being handled by one of those contractors.
"Shaw and the team members here at Al Kasik are committed to the completion of this project and are proud of what we have done to date," Geis said. "The team here understands how important this project is to the United States and Iraq. The sooner we finish and the Iraqi Armed Forces is able to independently secure their own country, the sooner U.S. troops can redeploy."
Requests for more information should be directed to Nicole Dalrymple at (540) 542-1492. Email requests may be sent to Nicole.Dalrymple@tac01.usace.army.mil For more information on the Corps in Iraq, visit www.grd.usace.army.mil.
Release #A050210b
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