Mugs has been reminding me lately to start getting organized for my upcoming redeployment. I, of course, have been procrastinating. While I enjoy moving every couple of years, I detest preparing to move. When I left Virginia for the start of this deployment, I had one duffel bag a little more than half filled. At Fort Benning, Georgia, I was issued almost 3 duffel bags of gear, such as body armor, additional uniforms, sleeping bag, etc. I haven’t been too excited about returning with 4 duffel bags again. This afternoon, I went to the PX and bought a footlocker to mail some things home.
Empty Footlocker
The first items into the locker were 3 pairs of boots I was issued at Fort Benning. I’ve worn my original pair of boots for the past year and haven’t needed to use the new pairs. I don’t have to turn them in at Fort Benning when I redeploy, so I definitely don’t want to lug them around in a duffel bag.
Boots in Footlocker
After that, I added combat uniforms, PT uniforms, PT sweat suit, socks, T-Shirts, and other miscellaneous items. The footlocker filled up very quickly. I might even mail another box of additional items.
Full Footlocker
This is the last time I want to move!
This past Monday morning, Mike F and I visited the Mosul courthouse. Mike is managing a project at the courthouse to provide some improvements to the physical security. In addition to providing blast walls along the street, the project includes a new screening building, floodlights, and a security system. We’ve driven by the front of the courthouse several times in the past week on our way to other sites.
Mosul Courthouse
Each time, I’ve noticed that construction on the new security building has not progressed, so I wasn’t expecting to see much else happening during this visit.
Screening Building
However, when we walked through the courthouse to the back side, I was pleasantly surprised. The contractor has installed the two new trailers for the security personnel, 38 out of 40 new floodlights, and placed the concrete pad for the new generator. The contractor’s on site supervisor, wearing the red keffiyeh on his head, was eager to talk to us about the project. His English was pretty good, and he was definitely proud of his work.
Contractor's Supervisor
Mike seems to be able to resolve any issues that come up for this project relatively quickly. I think he must threaten them with his hook, but I can’t prove it!
Last week, I spent a day visiting projects in Dahuk followed by a day of visits in Erbil. I saw lots of great projects. With construction projects, the most memorable things are the things that aren’t perfect. You’ve probably heard the phrase “good enough for government work”. When I was in Korea, we often joked that it was the land of the “not quite right”. Sometimes when I visit projects here, I think of “Iraqi good enough”.
At one school we visited in Dahuk, the contractor had recently completed a basketball court. Unfortunately, he installed the goal so that the backboard was almost even with the half circle below the free throw line. In the photo, Masuood, the Deputy in the Dahuk Office, is shooting from the line.
Masuood Shoots a Freethrow
Also at this school, the contractor installed a very popular fire extinguishing system I’ve seen at several other school projects.
Fire Buckets
How do you fix issues such as these? Easy, you put the USACE castle on the front, and that’s makes everything perfect!
Veen School in Dahuk
I visited a new construction project this morning. According to the project packet, it is officially called the Baghdad Police College - North (Mosul). I’m not sure why Baghdad has to be in the name, but I’m not the one paying for it. Anyway, this was an early morning visit; we hit the road at 0430. I made sure to get in a cup of coffee before departing so I wouldn’t be so grumpy. The project has just started, and the contractor is doing a lot of foundation work at this point.
Foundation and Columns
This facility will eventually house 1000 police recruits and 100 instructors and provide classrooms and other training facilities. Today we saw a lot of cement, blocks and rebar. The contractor awarded this $18 million contract is an Iraqi construction company. So far, I’m very impressed with the company. It’s nice to see an Iraqi company with the resources to handle such a large project. I think Mugs’ Dad would appreciate all of the labor involved in tying the rebar.
Rebar
As we were walking around, Mike F stopped to light a cigarette. The sun was rising above the horizon, and I thought it looked like a Marlboro Man advertisement.
Mike F - Marlboro Man
Don’t tell his wife he’s smoking again. He’ll probably get in trouble.
I went down to COB Speicher in Tikrit this week to see the GRN Change of Command. COL Michael Pfenning completed his 1 year command of GRN and was replaced by COL Margaret Burcham on 18 Jul 08. I was scheduled to fly down on Wednesday with Liz, 16 Jul, but the flight was cancelled due to dust storms in Tikrit. So instead, we went down with a SET the next morning. It was a nice, quiet ride without any incidents along the way.
Since we arrived the day before the ceremony, I had some time to kill. This gave me the opportunity to hang out with the two other OICs in GRN. LTC Mario Trevino is the OIC for the Kirkuk Area Office, and Lt Col Pat Kelly is the OIC for the Balad Area Office. Pat is Air Force, hence the different abbreviation for Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col vs LTC). Basically we sat around and griped to each other. Officers are just like privates; you get two or more of us together, and we gripe. I also had a chance to see Glenn. He’s filling in at the Tikrit Resident Office this month. Next month, he moves to the Baqubah Resident Office permanently.
The Change of Command ceremony on Friday was hosted by BG Dorko, the GRD Commanding General. MG Hertling, the MNF-I Commanding General also attended. The heart of the ceremony is the passing of the colors. The unit’s CSM (the senior enlisted member) hands the colors (unit flag) to the outgoing commander. The outgoing commander passes the colors to the commander of the higher unit. This symbolizes the outgoing commander relinquishing command. The higher commander then passes the colors to the ingoing commander, signifying the assumption of command. The incoming commander then returns the colors to the CSM for safe keeping. In the picture below, COL Burcham is receiving the colors from BG Dorko, while CSM Seitner observes.
COL Pfenning’s new assignment is the Executive Officer for the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works. His office will be in the Pentagon, so I may run into him while I’m assigned there making coffee for all of the Colonels and Generals!
