The Mission

I guess it would help if I explained the purpose of our being deployed in Iraq. From day one since the war, many Iraqi ASP's (Ammo Supply Points) were bombed, taken over and ordinance either blown up or buried by various groups. US Forces, Engineers and contracted EOD (Explosive Ordinance Disposal) company's.

Today, insurgents looking for IED (Improvised Explosive Devices) material are searching, digging and retrieving various pieces of ordinance buried from past years operations, and attempting to use these newly constructed IED's on US led Coalition Forces, Iraqi Government officials, Iraqi Army, Iraqi National Guard, Iraqi Police, civilians and contractor personnel.

For that reason, private EOD companies are working hard to eliminate all such ordinance by direction of the Corp of Engineers. The work is very time consuming, dangerous and usually at some location in the middle of nowhere, each team relying on its self for security. Logistical support for these camps usually comes from the FOB's (Forward Operating Base) or Legacy Depots.

Once a site is indentifed as needing future remediation, a camp is built to support the EOD operations. These camps house all the personnel, equipment and other life support items. Food, MRE's (Meals, Ready to Eat), Water (both Bottled and Non-Potable), Showers and Laundry facilities. If you're lucky you have connexs that have been converted into two bed living quarters. The not so lucky live in Alaska tents.

Security teams at these camps provide camp security, communications with Depots, and other security related tasks. Additionally they provide the EOD teams security while outside the camp walls, when they are conducting grid searches and other ordinance operations. At our camp it is a mixture of security personnel. Highly trained men who know their trade. It is these men that allow the operation to get accomplished, give you a sense of security during the daily operation (allowing you to keep your mind on the task at hand) and that good feeling at night, that allows restful sleep.

I am proud to work with these men, and frequently get a chance to laugh at the goings on here. When you mix so many, from different countries together, working for a common goal, I am amazed at how well we get along. Our security team is comprised of guys from Britain, Ireland, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada and the United States.

The stories of peoples experiences, wars that they have fought in, missions since in country, operational successes and failures, I find insightful, sad and humorous. I am sure that someone will write a book about it. We do from time to time get blown up, injured and sometimes lose a mate, but in the end, we attempt to learn from it and track on. It is a mission vital to all !

To Luis A...Great job setting up our camp. I only hope to attempt to improve what you had started. Go Navy !!!!!!!!!!!!!