Airmen provide engineering support, map future for Iraq

Published April 26, 2011
By Staff Sgt. Michael Longoria
U.S. Air Forces Central, Baghdad Media Outreach Team

MOSUL, Iraq -- A handful of dedicated Airmen are providing engineering expertise and assistance as property is turned back over to the government of Iraq.

"We are working hand in hand with the government of Iraq, side by side like brothers, and that's the way it should be," said Tech. Sgt. James Gray.

The Facilities Engineer Team at Contingency Operating Site Marez, Iraq, produces statements of work, plans and specifications for projects as well as surveying and mapping for bases across Northern Iraq.

"That's really our focus finding meaningful work that directly contributes to the mission," said Maj. Vincent Greener, FET Marez officer in charge. "We are focused on what our leadership wants done. We are a really dedicated group and we are doing our best no matter what we are asked to do."

The team, part of the 467th Expeditionary Prime Base Emergency Engineer Force Squadron, is responsible for COSs Marez, Irbil, Warrior and Sykes. With such a wide area of responsibility, the Airmen have to be versatile.

"We have to be flexible," Major Greener said. "We have to be able to effectively plan and get our equipment and people in the right places when they are needed. Our customers are impressed with the amount and quality of work we push out."

The team's "bread and butter" is producing up-to-date maps using global position satellites and other pieces of surveying equipment.

"Our job is to maintain the common installation picture by drafting and surveying," said Senior Airman Yevgeniy Shatrovskiy, FET Marez engineering assistant and a Congers, N.Y., native. "We do this through mapping and plotting. We use different types of surveying equipment in order to get our job done."

The maps will allow the Iraq government to plan how they will use the property.

"It feels good knowing that we are leaving the Iraqis with useful information that is accurate," said Airman Shatrovskiy, who is deployed from Air Mobility Command's Dover Air Force Base, Del. "With our maps, they can figure out how to use the land in the future."

As facilities and buildings start to turnover, many offices have to consolidate and relocate. At Mosul, the team did a statement of work and construction drawings to reutilize a 2,400 square meter Sprung structure to house the base exchange and post office.

"We provided oversight during the project as well to make sure it was built as designed," Major Greener said. "However, we were standing by to adjust the design if something came up during construction. We were able to combine the facilities and everyone is happy with how it turned out."

With each successful project, the team is met with something new each time.

"We are taught how to build up bases," said Sergeant Gray, FET Marez engineering assistant and Leon, Kan., native. "This is the first time in my career that we are working to close down a base. It is challenging but we are making it happen."

In addition to reducing the U.S. military footprint in Iraq, the team is helping the U.S. Department of State prepare for its future in the Middle East.

"Currently we are assisting the state department to make sure they are ready for the bed down and turnover that is starting to happen," said Sergeant Gray, who is deployed from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. "We do the surveying and mapping needed so they set up for future operations."

For the past several months, the team has helped with the transition from Department of Defense to the state department in Mosul and Irbil. With the FET's help, more than four miles of road have been reconstructed and a drainage system for more than 300 acres was installed at COS Irbil.

"Our engineers have accomplished most of the preliminary mapping requirements, statements of work as well as site master plans for their designated footprints," Major Greener said. "They tell us what they need, and we get it done."

The team's job does come with its fair share of challenges.

"The biggest challenge is not having the creature comforts of home," Sergeant Gray said. "Surveying in full gear outside the wire makes it very difficult and just carrying the extra load while getting on and off helicopters to set up our equipment is tough."

All difficulties aside, the team really enjoys what they do and what they are accomplishing in Iraq.

"It actually feels pretty good, being as this is my first deployment, and just knowing how far we've come and that I am part of it, part of the ending," said Senior Airman Michael Payne, FET Marez engineering assistant and St. Louis, Mo., native deployed from Joint Base Charleston, S.C. -- also home to several AMC Airmen. "Seeing how everything has turned out over the years and now giving it back. It feels really good. I'm enjoying it."