U.S. division builds new facility for Iraqi army

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: With U.S. Marine units set to leave the base at Al Asad in the coming months and a reduction in strength for the U.S. Army units replacing them, more emphasis is being placed on the Iraqi army, the U.S. army said. “ Those Iraqi army units are now much better equipped to provide protection to the western Al Anbar province following the recent completion of the Al Asad Location Command. ” “ The $8.7 million location command project, managed by the Gulf Region Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Iraq , was formally turned over to the Iraqi army following a ribbon -cutting ceremony September 10,” said the U.S. army in a statement received by Iraqi News. “ U.S. and Iraqi dignitaries attending the ceremony included Col. Dan Anninos, commander of the Gulf Region District; Maj. General Abdullah, commander of the Iraqi Seventh Army and Col. Khalid Noori, commander of the Al Asad Location Command. ” “Today we celebrate a major step toward the completion of the Al Asad Location Command,” said Noori. “This command will have a major impact in the support of Iraqi units in the western region by managing administrative and technical support and providing security for both the base and the mobile convoys.” “My team is very proud of these facilities and we hope it increases the Iraqi army’s readiness level as they assume more responsibility for their country’s security,” said Annino. “Together, we built this facility one brick at a time with our collective hands, minds and hearts.” The scope of the project included the construction of a fire station, a flammable materials point, platoon warehouse and three new barracks capable of housing 250 soldiers. The project also included the construction of a bulk lubricant storage facility and distribution points with a capacity to hold 2.3 million liters of diesel fuel, 800,000 liters of benzene and 100,000 liters of kerosene. The Turkish owned Emta Insaat A. S. Company was the general contractor for the 12-month project. Funding for the facility was provided through th e Iraqi Security Force Fund. The Gulf Region Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Iraq has completed thousands of reconstruction projects in partnership with the U.S. government and the government of Iraq . Since 2004, GRD has completed 4,642 projects throughout Iraq valued at more than $7.2 billion, and has 311 projects ongoing. SH (S)/SR 1