thedrifter
04-22-07, 03:26 PM
8th ESB: A COP in five days or your money back
By Cpl. Wayne Edmiston, 2nd Marine Logistics Group
AMARIYAH-FERRIS REGION, Iraq (April 22, 2007) -- Building a combat outpost is no easy task. Marines may have to turn buildings that were insurgent safe houses days earlier into places where coalition forces can help protect their Iraqi neighbors.
The Marines of 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) are not only up to the task, but specialize in it and are materializing the plans of commanders on the ground.
“The way ahead will be neither quick nor easy and, undoubtedly, there will be tough days. We face a determined, adaptable, barbaric enemy. He will try to wait us out,” said Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, the commanding general of Multi-National Forces Iraq during a press conference with the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Petraeus explained controlling terrain would give a window of opportunity for Iraqis to get on their feet and completely take over their nation’s security – the key to the strategy being combat outposts.
Major Bruce Erhardt, the commanding officer of Engineer Support Company, 8th ESB, explained the purpose of building such outposts.
“It’s to establish an American and Iraqi presence in this area of operations and we do that by building these (Forward Operating Bases) and (Combat Outposts),” the Beland, Fla., native explained. “My Marines put in force protection measures, perform earth moving, install water, electrical, sanitation and construct billeting.”
Cpl. Steven M. Daniels, a water treatment technician and operations specialist with 8th ESB explained the most important goal is making sure their fellow brothers-in-arms have a safe place to stay. In this particular case, U.S. soldiers assigned to Regimental Combat Team 6 will use the outpost.
“The important part is force protection and making sure all the Army personnel are safe and can still do their job,” the Troy, N.H., native explained. “We build so they can get their vehicles and people in here and keep terrorists out.”
Building the outpost is not the time consuming part. The planning lasts weeks before the first piece of gear leaves for the work site.
“This site will take about a week, but the planning was a lot longer than that,” Daniels continued. “Getting everyone here safely and keeping track of all the people are the hardest parts.”
Building the combat outpost may be difficult, but is nothing new to many of these Marines.
“In (Operation Iraqi Freedom I) we built bases like this in Kuwait,” said Sgt. Robert C. Topper, a heavy equipment mechanic with 2nd Maintenance Bn., 2nd MLG (Fwd). “It was a similar process of putting up berms, observation posts and a wire.”
However, Topper said this operation is very different because of the imminent danger of enemy attack, which is much closer than it was in 2003 in Kuwait.
“You have Iraqi civilians around. That makes it a lot more dangerous and a totally different process,” the Atlanta native said.
The Marines put up wire, plumbing, barriers and operate heavy machinery all while wearing full personal protective equipment, adding about 50 pounds to their body weight. They also work 12 to 15-hour shifts to get the job done.
Erhardt, who supervised the operation, was up day and night with his Marines but said they faired well in the operation.
“They are doing a good job and are working hard,” he said.
When they get the opportunity, they sleep, eat and take some time to relax, which is limited.
For these Marines knowing the magnitude of the mission makes it all worthwhile.
“It’s nice getting away from base and seeing how the Iraqis live,” Daniels said. “It feels really good to help the Iraqi people.”
Ellie
By Cpl. Wayne Edmiston, 2nd Marine Logistics Group
AMARIYAH-FERRIS REGION, Iraq (April 22, 2007) -- Building a combat outpost is no easy task. Marines may have to turn buildings that were insurgent safe houses days earlier into places where coalition forces can help protect their Iraqi neighbors.
The Marines of 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) are not only up to the task, but specialize in it and are materializing the plans of commanders on the ground.
“The way ahead will be neither quick nor easy and, undoubtedly, there will be tough days. We face a determined, adaptable, barbaric enemy. He will try to wait us out,” said Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, the commanding general of Multi-National Forces Iraq during a press conference with the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Petraeus explained controlling terrain would give a window of opportunity for Iraqis to get on their feet and completely take over their nation’s security – the key to the strategy being combat outposts.
Major Bruce Erhardt, the commanding officer of Engineer Support Company, 8th ESB, explained the purpose of building such outposts.
“It’s to establish an American and Iraqi presence in this area of operations and we do that by building these (Forward Operating Bases) and (Combat Outposts),” the Beland, Fla., native explained. “My Marines put in force protection measures, perform earth moving, install water, electrical, sanitation and construct billeting.”
Cpl. Steven M. Daniels, a water treatment technician and operations specialist with 8th ESB explained the most important goal is making sure their fellow brothers-in-arms have a safe place to stay. In this particular case, U.S. soldiers assigned to Regimental Combat Team 6 will use the outpost.
“The important part is force protection and making sure all the Army personnel are safe and can still do their job,” the Troy, N.H., native explained. “We build so they can get their vehicles and people in here and keep terrorists out.”
Building the outpost is not the time consuming part. The planning lasts weeks before the first piece of gear leaves for the work site.
“This site will take about a week, but the planning was a lot longer than that,” Daniels continued. “Getting everyone here safely and keeping track of all the people are the hardest parts.”
Building the combat outpost may be difficult, but is nothing new to many of these Marines.
“In (Operation Iraqi Freedom I) we built bases like this in Kuwait,” said Sgt. Robert C. Topper, a heavy equipment mechanic with 2nd Maintenance Bn., 2nd MLG (Fwd). “It was a similar process of putting up berms, observation posts and a wire.”
However, Topper said this operation is very different because of the imminent danger of enemy attack, which is much closer than it was in 2003 in Kuwait.
“You have Iraqi civilians around. That makes it a lot more dangerous and a totally different process,” the Atlanta native said.
The Marines put up wire, plumbing, barriers and operate heavy machinery all while wearing full personal protective equipment, adding about 50 pounds to their body weight. They also work 12 to 15-hour shifts to get the job done.
Erhardt, who supervised the operation, was up day and night with his Marines but said they faired well in the operation.
“They are doing a good job and are working hard,” he said.
When they get the opportunity, they sleep, eat and take some time to relax, which is limited.
For these Marines knowing the magnitude of the mission makes it all worthwhile.
“It’s nice getting away from base and seeing how the Iraqis live,” Daniels said. “It feels really good to help the Iraqi people.”
Ellie