Published: September 16, 2008
Hard Work, Long Nights Help Change a COP to a FOB
By Capt. Michael Poaletti
3rd BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B
FORWARD OPERATING BASE WAR EAGLE, Iraq - Turning Forward Operating Base War Eagle into the forward operating base it is today took a lot of sweat, hard work, patience and determination.
Upon the advanced party's arrival to War Eagle in late February, Soldiers were met by extremely poor living conditions. They were living, in some cases, 10 Soldiers in a small Containerized Housing Unit intended for a maximum capacity of four Soldiers.
As 2nd Battalion, 329th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment of the mighty 82nd Airborne Division sent out one Soldier from the base, the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad would bring one Soldier to War Eagle. Furthermore, there were numerous issues that were addressed right away.
The pit where cooking grease was dumped was not only an eye sore, but also a safety hazard at Forward Operating Base War Eagle before repairs were made when the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad took over the compound in March.(U.S. Army photo by Maj. Sam Volkman, 3rd STB, 3rd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B)
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The first few issues immediately addressed were shower water draining into an open pit in the ground and grease from dining facility cooking was poured directly into a hole in the ground. Also, trash was all over the ground getting pillaged by wild dogs, cats and rats. These issues all posed serious health risks to Soldiers and needed to be addressed immediately.
To combat these issues, a "black water" septic tank for the shower and latrines, a tank to contain the grease and trash collection points were constructed around the FOB.
The new Forward Operating Base War Eagle dining facility is in the early stages of construction and will be completed in November for Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldiers with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division to use.(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jerry Saslav, 3rd BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B)
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"To have the amount of quality of life improvements occur during such a short amount of time truly shows how far we have come during this deployment. (We now have) same-day turnaround for laundry, three hot meals a day and a room with A/C to come to. To have all the hard work our Soldiers do on a daily basis to make this Brigade function rewarded by a quality place to live is the goal we have as leaders. We will continue to make War Eagle better day by day for the Soldiers of the Brigade," said 1st Sgt. David Gonzalez, a native of Pueblo, Colo., who serves as the senior enlisted leader of Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd BCT, 4th Inf. Div.
Looking into the future, knowing how many Soldiers would be living on War Eagle, additional CHUs were ordered and installed. Soldiers and civilian employees worked into the wee hours nearly every night installing the CHUs, generators and showers latrine units and necessary connections for those.
Wood panels now cover the former open pits where cooking oil was dumped at Forward Operating Base War Eagle.(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jerry Saslav, 3rd BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B)
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The newly installed grass allows Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldiers with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division an alternative location to traditional physical training locations at Forward Operating Base War Eagle.(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jerry Saslav, 3rd BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B)
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Another critical issue was office space. The Striker Brigade and Phoenix Battalion Headquarters were preparing their move to War Eagle from Camp Taji. The "JDAM section B" building did not have a roof over the third floor. A new roof was constructed, with the subsequent remodeling project for the third floor itself that provides office space for the Brigade chaplain, public affairs staff and the embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team.
Anyone and everyone loves good cooking. To ensure the best meals possible for Soldiers and everyone living at FOB War Eagle, Kellogg, Brown and Root tents were brought in for the Army cooks to use instead of the traditional Military Kitchens Trailers.
Construction is currently underway for the new DFAC seating area which is scheduled to open around mid-November and meals will be served and consumed in the same area.
Pfc. Joseph Cook, a Carbondale, Ill., native, stencils the name on the newly built basketball court at Forward Operating Base War Eagle. The basketball court will be used by Soldiers with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad who took over the compound in March.(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jerry Saslav, 3rd BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B)
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"The new dining facility will offer a broader ability to better prepare and serve quality and more variety of various food products. This will help uplift the heavy work load of Soldiers here on FOB War Eagle," said Warrant Officer 1 Darryl Goddard, a native of Norfolk, Va., who serves as the food service advisor for 3rd BCT, 4th Inf. Div.
Other contracts currently under execution are a solar light project providing much needed lighting around perimeter roads and asphalt paving. These projects will enable Soldiers to see at night when running outdoors as well as provide more pavement to pound while running. Though there are state of the art treadmills and elliptical runners available, some Soldiers prefer to run outside.
The gym at Forward Operating Base War Eagle has added new equipment and cardio equipment to better meet the physical fitness needs of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jerry Saslav, 3rd BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B)
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In an effort to provide Soldiers much needed ways to unwind, a grass sports field was built along with two sand volleyball courts, two horseshoe pits. Additionally, rooms were completely remodeled for the gyms, recreation room, Internet café and a basketball court was built.
"The sports complex was one of the best improvements yet. Everyone loves to stay in shape but the traditional push-ups, sit-ups and two mile run gets old. With the sports complex you have the ability to do PT and have fun at the same time. It also helps to blow off steam and unwind from a long day by taking a walk through the fresh grass," said Pfc. Joseph Cook, a Carbondale Ill., native who serves in the mayors cell with HHT, 3rd BCT, 4th Inf. Div.
The pit where drainage from the shower latrine units at Forward Operating Base War Eagle was a denizen of waste and sewage before repairs were made when the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad took over the compound in March.(U.S. Army photo by Maj. Sam Volkman, 3rd STB, 3rd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B)
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Soldiers at FOB War Eagle have free popcorn, slushies and soft-serve ice cream available every day. Although there is no Green Beans Coffee, Pizza Hut or other commercially owned restaurants at FOB War Eagle, Soldiers enjoy life here. There are four stores owned by Iraqi nationals that provide myriad products for Soldiers to meet their entertainment and relaxation needs.
It's amazing to think from March to present the amount of projects that have been finished, the man-hours invested and still harder to recall what War Eagle used to look like. FOB War Eagle has come a long way since the Striker Brigade's arrival, yet Soldiers are continually looking at ways to improve the quality of life here.
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