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In the comments for a post, Janice asks “What is it like when you go to a job site with your security?” To answer her question, I’d like to describe USACE’s approach to construction management in Iraq. As I’ve mentioned previously, I never leave the wire without my personal security detachment (PSD). I have two types of teams that work for me. The team that takes me to site visits is a security escort team (SET). As the name suggests, the SET’s mission is to escort USACE personnel on missions outside the wire. The other type I haven’t mentioned before is called a reconstruction liaison team (RLT). The RLT visits sites without taking USACE personnel with them. They check out the security situation at a project site to see if it is safe for me to visit. More importantly, the RLT also attempts to establish a relationship with the locals that live near the projects as well as with the contractors working on the projects.

You may not realize it, but the contractors working on my projects are not Americans. As much as possible, we hire Iraqi construction firms to build Iraqi construction projects. While this is the right thing to do for the local economy, it does make communication with the contractors very difficult. On the RLT, I have interpreters. They are a key asset.

For the Al Shura site visit I posted previously, first I sent an RLT to the site to check out the area. When I received the RLT report, it said that the area was safe, but it also mentioned that the water treatment plant operator had some questions about the project. So I planned a site visit with my SET and requested to have the RLT team leader and interpreter on the visit as well. Since they had been there and talked to the operator, I knew they would be a big help on my site visit. For a site visit, when we arrive on site, the SET members get out and secure the perimeter. Once they establish that there are no immediate threats, then the USACE Engineers are able to get out of the vehicles to conduct any necessary project inspections.

In the picture below, Gene, the Project Engineer, is talking to the water treatment plant operator with the help of the RLT interpreter. A SET member is providing security in the background.

The key to success on a site visit is constant communication. I hope this answers Janice’s question!