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Gulf Region District provides maintenance facility to Iraqi Army

Jul 26, 2010

By LaDonna Davis, Gulf Region District

MOSUL, Iraq--The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Gulf Region District (GRD) is currently managing the construction of a Signal Company Maintenance and Storage Platoon for the Iraqi Army in Mosul.

The facility is located at Al Kindi Iraqi Army Base and will serve as the Iraqi Army's (IA) vehicle maintenance and communication maintenance facility.

"The completion of this facility will be one step forward in making the Iraqi Army more independent in this area," said Muhamad Al-Jawaree, senior deputy resident engineer at the GRD Mosul resident office. "The facility will also be the area where they will be storing their communication equipment, so we are providing the Iraqi Army the space to help them do their jobs."

Due to the construction site being on an Iraqi military base, there have been several obstacles the Corps has had to overcome to begin and continue construction, the main one being security.

"There are very stringent security procedures the contractor has to follow in order to gain access to the base and the construction site," said Al-Jawaree. "One of the difficulties we face is making sure the contractor is aware of the security procedures so he can get in with no problems. The IA on base also require that we let all construction material sit at the site for at least 24 hours before we can begin using it, so if we do not plan accordingly, it could cause delays."

But, in spite of the security issues, construction at the Al Kindi Iraqi Army Base is going well and is scheduled to be completed on time.

"Without this facility, Iraqi Army Divisions will be limited in maintenance and sustainment ability which could adversely impact the Iraqi Security Forces ability to conduct independent operations," said Al-Jawaree. "So our goal is to definitely complete the project on time."

The contractor for the Signal Company Maintenance and Storage Platoon at the Al Kindi Iraqi Army Base is 77 Construction, Contracting & Trading Co. The cost of the project is $944,000 and it is expected to be completed before fall 2010.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Iraq has completed thousands of reconstruction projects in partnership with the U.S. Government and the Government of Iraq. Since 2004, USACE has completed more than 4,800 projects throughout Iraq valued at more than $7.7 billion, and has more than 250 projects ongoing. The overall reconstruction effort in Iraq currently provides jobs for more than 20,000 Iraqis.