3rd Battalion, 6th Marines augmented by civil affairs teams are continuously working with Fallujah City Council members, local tribal leaders and local citizens to carry out projects in an effort to improve the city’s infrastructure.

Civil affairs leaders and Army Corps of Engineers met with the city council’s director generals today, to talk about projects that will provide key services throughout the city, such as improving the water distribution systems.

The city is now in the planning stages of establishing a new water distribution network. 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines recently approved a project to purchase needed parts for a water treatment facility, which will service the majority of Fallujah. Right now, the facilities have inoperable pumps and other parts that are in a state of disrepair. The installation of new pumps and filters at the Azerghia water treatment facility will bring the facility back to its previous prewar output capacity.

“The initiative to solve all water problems for Fallujah lies in the pipe network,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Shane Duhe, Civil Affairs Team 5 team leader. “When the pipe network works properly, the water treatment plants already established along the Euphrates River will certainly be able to support all of the city’s needs.”

Embedded Provincial Reconstruction Teams introduced reverse-engineering concepts to the directors that are currently being developed. Reverse engineering concepts that the Army Corps of Engineers use will spare the expense of rebuilding existing facilities, thus saving money and labor time.

Another high priority on the Fallujah City Council’s list is the Telecommunications Headquarters in the city. Up to 45,000 citizens will benefit from having land line telephone service at their disposal.
“Over the past five years, many services have been degraded,” Duhe said. “Phone services are important to all citizens in Fallujah because they need to be able to call emergency services and police hotlines. This has a direct impact on local security.”

Civil affairs teams continue to work on projects to facilitate the reconstruction of basic needs such as water, sewage and electricity. Their mission is to assist in transition by working with the local Iraqi government to build strong infrastructure for Fallujah.

DVIDS
By: Cpl. Chris Lyttle
Regimental Combat Team 1

Students in Basra are now attending a newly refurbished vocational technical school as they acquire important job skills.

The school’s headmaster, Mohammed Hassan Al Hassani, said he is very pleased with the $1.24 million rehabilitation of the Al Khaseeb Votech Center that included major roof repairs, new electrical and plumbing, plastering, interior renovations and a new perimeter wall.

He has been a votech headmaster for more than three decades and points out that because of the deteriorating conditions at that facility prior to the start of the project last fall, only about 30 students were enrolled there. Al Khaseeb was built in the early 1980s.

“Today we have 600 students attending courses in such areas as welding, auto mechanics, carpentry, lathe work, masonry, plumbing, computers, electric installation, air conditioning and refrigeration,” said Hassani. “With the structural improvements, I’m optimistic that next year we’ll be teaching over 1000 students, ranging in age from 16 to 25.”

The school has a faculty and staff of about 130 employees working there now.

“This project is very important for our students,” said Hassani. “This greatly improved learning environment is a definite plus as they develop their skills.”

Among those visiting the facility June 8 was Maj. Stephen Dale with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, whose office oversaw the renovation work. Dale toured the welding and mechanics classes and he later told the headmaster it brought back memories from his teenage years.

“I took agricultural mechanics in high school that covered a number of areas including welding, small engine repair, basic electricity, carpentry and masonry,” Dale explained to Hassani. “I remember being in the same situation as your students are today. Many of those skills I was taught in high school, I still use.”

“I’m very proud to be involved with this effort to help Basrah’s young people learn skills needed for good jobs benefitting their households,” said James Hodges, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers construction representative who has been overseeing the work since the project’s start last Fall. “The facility, when we got here, was in definite need of structural repairs, but the votech staff was eager to help and have contributed immensely to bringing this project to where it stands now. The improvements have allowed the school to substantially increase its enrollment, positively impacting hundreds of additional Basrah families and it’s just a start to what this school can do.”

Under a separate contract, the 358th Civil Affairs Brigade funded $487,000 to upgrade the equipment for the classrooms. Those materials included welders, grinders, air compressors, drills, voltage meters, alternators and starter motors, compressors, work tables, desks, chairs, circular saws and sanders, electric nail guns, computers, projectors, surveyor’s instruments and a variety of supplies.

MNF-I
By A. Al Bahrani and Norris Jones
Gulf Region South district

Outside a small cafe in Abu Nuwas, Eastern Baghdad, a group of men play a game of dominoes, June 5. (U.S. Army Photo/Staff Sgt. Brian D. Lehnhardt)

An Iraqi man unloads his farm goods June 2 as business slowly returns to normal in the Jamilla Market area of the Sadr district of Baghdad. The area has recently had trash and rubble removed that was keeping business owners from gaining access to their stores. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech Sgt. Cohen Young)

Sewage from pipes damaged by special groups and criminal attacks on the Jamilla Market of the Sadr City district of Baghdad is hauled away by workers to pave the way for infrastructure improvements June 2. As soon as the sewage was removed, underground pipes were repaired and Iraqi workers began working on the road to speed the flow of traffic into one of Baghdad’s largest market places. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech Sgt. Cohen Young)

A young Iraqi boy pushing a cart of produce greets Iraqi army soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 42nd Brigade, 11th IA Division, and Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers from Company C, 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armor Division, and the 432nd Civil Affairs Team, as they patrol through the streets of Jamilla Market in the Sadr City district of Baghdad June 2. TF 1-6 Inf. and the 432nd CAT are assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, and are charged with the task of helping to restore normalcy to the area after more than two months of fighting there. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech Sgt. Cohen Young)

One hundred forty girls in the Shajoy district of Zabul province attended school Saturday, a first for females there in 30 years.

The girls are currently studying lessons such as religion and math in a small mud house, however they are in need of a suitable location in the district for a school.

“I hope all these girls will have a good future,” said Mr. Qayoum, district administrator. “I’m happy the girls can come to school and be in this good situation. I and the police chief are always here to work with (the government and Zabul PRT representatives) and to work for the people of Shajoy. I hope God will help us to work honestly with our people, the government and the line ministry directors.”

The Zabul PRT civil affairs team accompanied Shajoy and Zabul government representatives to look at various building sites as potential locations for a new girls’ school.

“In the name of God, honorable teachers and honorable students, today I am pleased I’m seeing children in school,” said the deputy governor. “I couldn’t believe you have students in a safe and secure area; I would appreciate all forces’ cooperation for security. For everyone in Shajoy, farmers, teachers and each individual, I’m asking you to send your children to school. It’s our obligation. You (children) are the future of Afghanistan.”

ISAF

DJIBOUTI (March 30, 2008) Army Sgt. Catherine Olivarez takes a boy’s temperature during a U.S. military medical team visit to the village of Goubetto. Navy and Marine Corps medical teams from the Tarawa Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) joined Army counterparts assigned to the 354th Civil Affairs Brigade to kick off the six-day medical civil action March 29. The ESG is conducting operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility while on a scheduled deployment to the western Pacific Ocean supporting maritime security operations. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Richard Doolin