RELEASE NUMBER: 040330-03
DATE POSTED: MARCH 25, 2004
415th Civil Affairs tackles Iraqi reconstruction
projects
By Spc. Kimberly Snow
196th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
SAMARRA, Iraq (USASOC News
Service, March 30, 2004) — Since landing here in mid-February, Soldiers
from the Kalamazoo, Mich.-based 415th Civil Affairs Battalion have diligently
worked on projects aimed at improving living conditions for locals and gaining
residents’ trust.
Among the projects are the reconstruction of 43 primary and secondary schools
in and around Samarra. Public Works Team Chief Maj. John P. Lawlor
met earlier this month with Samarra chief of council and director of education,
Shaikh Adnan Thabet Maher, at a forward operating base here to discuss the
status of the projects and the proposed reconstruction of 11 mosques.
“The people were skeptical about the coalition forces and (their) promises,”
Maher said through a translator. “(However) many people changed their minds
about the coalition forces (after) seeing the rebuilding.”
All 43 schools are nearing completion, said Lawlor.
Several of the schools are already complete, Maher announced during the meeting.
However, at the time of the meeting, inspectors had not had the opportunity
to inspect the buildings, Lawlor said.
He also said there is a constant struggle to move the projects forward, and
that the team’s biggest obstacle has been coordinating their efforts.
“We’re trying to help them help themselves,” said Lawlor. “The objective
is to rebuild these facilities to the satisfaction of the communities. So
what we need to do is ensure community participation.”
Public Works Construction Supervisor Master Sgt. Barbara J.L. Slocum explained
that the Coalition Provisional Authority allotted $30,000 for each school.
She said problems arise when project managers deviate from the contracts
to fix items not listed on them. Also, while U.S. officials prefer
to work with reliable contractors, local officials want to spread the work
around.
“The local shaikh wants to ensure that there is work for everybody,” she
said.
Unfortunately, many Iraqi children have not attended school since reconstruction
began several months ago, said Slocum. The team is working hard to
ensure they are completed and inspected as quickly as possible, she added.
“I feel good about our mission,” she said. “It feels good to help.”