By Spc. Brian Johnson

1434th Engr. Co, USD-C

BAGHDAD –U.S. Soldiers training their Iraqi counterparts is a common occurrence in Iraq. However, opportunities for Iraqi Soldiers to learn construction skills from U.S. Army construction units don’t come along often.

On March 9, the Soldiers of 1434th Engineer Company had an unexpected opportunity to make a difference for 17th Iraqi Army Division at Joint Security Station Deason.

            JSS Deason is home to the 17th IA’s Non-Commissioned Officer Academy. Here, future NCO leaders from 17th IA learn skills to make them more effective leaders in their home units.

When the Iraqi Soldiers come for training at the NCO Academy, they stay in buildings that are part class room, part barracks. The roof on many of these combination buildings is made solely of plywood.  Because of this, during the rainy months in Iraq, the roofs leak into the classrooms, training and sleeping areas.

            The U.S. Army’s 17th Military Transition Team works closely with 17th IA at JSS Deason.  To solve the problem of the leaky roof and provide a special training opportunity, the 17th MiTT did not have to go far.

Not far from the NCO Academy, carpenters, plumbers and electricians from the 1434th Engineer Company, working diligently on another construction project, were able to take some time to train the Iraqi Soldiers how to fix the roof themselves.

Staff Sgt. Joseph Baker from Bellair, Mich., 1434th Engineer Company, was one Soldier who helped to supervise the training.  Baker said that in just a few hours, the Iraqi Sergeants were able to do all of the building themselves.

“We taught them how to cut the sheet metal, place purling, and fasten the metal to the roof,” said Baker. “After almost two hours, the Iraqi’s were taking charge and we moved back to more of a supervisory role.”

At the end of one day of training, the combined effort of the U.S. and Iraqi Soldiers had sheeted 44 feet of roof on one building.

“The Engineers were only available for one day,” said Master Sgt. Gilbert Nail from Clayton, Okla., a member of 17th MiTT. “The next day, without any additional guidance, the Iraqi NCOs continued the construction work on their own.”

According to Nail, the training not only provided the Iraqi Soldiers with additional skills but also the confidence to do it themselves.

Although there wasn’t enough material to upgrade all of the plywood roofing, there was enough material to complete about half.

“Once they got past the initial training, you could see the Iraqi Soldiers taking pride in their work,” Baker explained. “They were using great care to make sure that they got everything cut and placed right.”

“The more we can do to help the Iraqi Army out,” said Nail, “the stronger they will be when we leave.”