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Forging Friendships

By Staff Sgt. Bryant Maude

1st Sus. Bde., PAO, MND-B

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - It started with a handshake between the 1st Sustainment Brigade Commander, Col. Kevin O'Connell, a native of Clinton, Md;, and the Taji Base Commander, Iraqi Staff Brigadier General Abdul Mahady Sharaque Sabah, a native of Diyala, Iraq, March 29.

"Today was the first meeting between the 1st Sustainment Brigade Commander and the Base Commander of Taji," said Lt. Col. Mark Meyer, a native of Neillsville, Wis., and the senior advisor to the Logistics Military Assistance Team for Coalition Army Assistance Training Team, Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq, and the person responsible for setting up the meeting. "It was important to put a face to the coalition side of Taji," stated Meyer.

(Left to right) Staff Brigadier General Abdul Mahady Sharaque Sabah, a native of Diyala, Iraq, and the base commander for Taji, greats Col. Kevin O'Connell, a native of Clinton, Md., and the commander of the 1st Sustainment Brigade, outside Sabah's office on Camp Taji March 29. "We look forward to a partnership with General Sabah to improve the support he gives to his customers; the Iraqi units on Taji and in the surrounding area," stated O'Connell.

The two leaders sat down in General Sabah's office with some of their key staff and shared chi, discussed needs, and got to know one another. Sabah is a 27-year veteran of the Iraqi Army and was assigned to the role as Base Commander of Taji six months ago.

"We look forward to a partnership with General Sabah to improve the support he gives to his customers, the Iraqi units on Taji and in the surrounding area," stated O'Connell.

(Left to right) Capt. Randall Weiser, a native of Thomson, Ga., and the officer in charge of the 1st Sustainment Brigade Iraqi Security Force cell, along with Lt. Col. Mark Meyer, a native of Neillsville, Wis., and the senior advisor to the Logistics Military Assistance Team for Coalition Army Assistance Training Team, Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq is offered a cup of chi at the office of Staff Brigadier General Sabah on Camp Taji March 29. "Today was the first meeting between the 1st Sustainment Brigade Commander and the Base Commander of Taji" said Meyer.

Taji is the largest [Iraqi Army] base in Iraq, with maintenance depots, supply depots, the 9th Iraqi Army Division, and all their schools; Iraqi General Sabah's span of control and responsibility is huge, and his resources are scarce.

"I have so many challenges; water, ice, fuel for power, stated Sabah. "But I am hopeful. I am looking forward to working with my counterparts in the 1st Sustainment Brigade."

O'Connell also looks toward a brighter future.

(Left to right) Command Sgt. Maj. Frank Cardoza, a native of Lebanon, Mo., and the Command Sergeant Major for the 1st Sustainment Brigade trade contact information with Iraqi Command Sgt. Maj. Saleh, the Command Sergeant Major for the Taji Base. The two leaders talked during a meeting between the two units on March 29.

"We're here in a partnership role to assist in teaching, coaching, and mentoring General Sabah's staff in identifying their shortcomings, and then through training, to help develop a plan to improve their mission readiness posture," declared O'Connell.

"We're trying to synergistically use the resources that the Iraqi Army has inherent to what they are doing and what they've built up for themselves over the last five years, and then linking Col. O'Connell and the 1st Sustainment Brigade's Soldiers, resources, and expertise in an effort to marry these two groups up; again, with the goal of increasing General Sabah's capabilities," affirmed Meyers.

"It's a great team effort here; if only to help the base commander move forward with things that we can do to help with capabilities where we have expertise like supply, maintenance, distribution, medical, and things that we share in our comparison roles," said O'Connell.

Staff Brigadier General Abdul Mahady Sharaque Sabah, a native of Diyala, Iraq, and the Taji Base commander, discussed his needs with the command team of the 1st Sustainment Brigade, March 29. "I have so many challenges; water, ice, fuel for power," stated Sabah. "But I am hopeful. I am looking forward to working with my counterparts at the 1st Sustainment Brigade."

The meeting lasted a little more than two hours and all ready there are plans for more meetings with the two respective commanders and their staffs in an effort to get the partnership moving and producing results.

"The 1st Sustainment Brigade was like a breath of fresh air coming in here to help; 'We're here to help you.' They are partnering with their Iraqi neighbors here on Camp Taji. Every one from the Brigade Commander to the specialist I've run into has been totally team-oriented," stated Meyer.

"The Iraqi Soldiers work with very little, but they do a good job. They do their very best. They love their country," stated Sabah. "It is my hope that our Army will be equipped to the same level as the rest of the good Armies of the world, and that we will be powerful enough to protect our people and our country."