July 2010

One on one District commander emphasizes business of leadership Task Force Kabul Operations and Maintenance branch keeps facilities in working order Off the ground New runway at Forward Operating Base Shank supports the military mission Change of Command Col.Thomas Magness assumes command of Afghanistan Engineer District - North C h Tajikistan in Uz a bekis tan District Commander Col. Michael McCormick

AED-North District Command Sergeant Major hshan Command Sgt. Maj. Calvin T. Williams dak Ba Chief of Public Affairs ar David A. Salazar uz kh Kund Ta K Layout & Design ash Joseph A. Marek lk m zjan Ba h Staff Writer & Multimedia Specialist w ir Ja Hank G. Heusinkveld

Staff Writer hlan Paul R. Giblin g n Ba n ta angan r ta is am e ris n S jsh u e Pan N ar m ul un The Freedom Builder is the field magazine of the Fa P K k ryab ri Kapisa n Afghanistan Engineer District, U.S. Army Corps of r a wan L ma S ar ag- hKabul Engineers; and is an unofficial publication authorized u Bamyan P Page 16 by AR 360-1. It is produced monthly for electronic ul distribution by the Public Affairs Office, U.S. Army T ab - Kabul rhar K ge 4 ga Corps of Engineers, Afghanistan Engineer District. It is Pa an produced in the Afghanistan theater of operations. 6- KabNul Views and opinions expressed in The Freedom Page 1 Builder are not necessarily those of the Department of Wardak r his n a the Army or the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. adg g ank B a o 5 - Sh Articles or photographic submissions are welcome t L ge 1 Pa a and should arrive in PAO by the 15th of each month s y t r i k preceding publication. They can be mailed to the below ho a address or they can be e-mailed. If electronically G n P Khost submitted, all stories should be in Word document a i format and all photographs should be high resolution kun n Day di az and include photo caption information. at h h er G All photographs appearing herein are by the H Afghanistan Engineer District Public Affairs Office g unless otherwise accredited. f Volume 6, Issue 3 Jult 2010 www.aed.usace.army.mil The mission of The Freedom Builder is to support the Commander’s Internal Communication Program A Paktika for the Afghanistan Engineer District. It also serves n as the Commander’s primary communication tool for Uruzga FEATURES from the NORTH ul accurately transmitting policies, operations, technical Zab developments, and command philosophy to the Afghanistan Engineer District. 4- Commanders Column My 3 responsibilities as commander Submissions can be e-mailed to: [email protected] r 5- Submissions can be mailed to: ha Change of Command h da Public Affairs Office Fara an Col. Thomas Magness speaks to Corps of Engineers USACE-AED K ATTN: Qalaa House personnel during the change of command on July APO AE 09356

COM: 540-678-2984, DSN: 312-265-2984 10- Questions and Answers mroz District Commander emphasizes business of The Freedom Builder Magazine is available online at Ni lman www.aed.usace.army.mil He leadership 15- Shank air strip Cover Image: New runway at Forward Operating Base Shank an supports the military mission Brig. Gen. William Ir Buckler passed the 16- Task Force Kabul Corps of Engineers Operations and Maintenance branch keeps flag to Col. Thomas facilities in working order India Magness during the istan Change of Command. Pak 20- Parting shot (Full story on pg. 5) High-flying Air Force Staff Sgt. Paul Kelly Photo by | Joe Marek Column

Commanders Comments Col. Thomas Magness Column My 3 responsibilities as commander I was as proud as I could be to take mean, that’s just a monumental task. command for Afghanistan Engineer District- We can do it if we’re innovative, if we’re North on July 8. creative, and if we’re thinking about new I come from the Los Angeles District, where ways to deliver. We can do it if we’re serious I was the district commander for three years. about the business of building capacity, in I loved every minute of it. I left with the which we train the Afghan people to take conflicts that any commander would have: over in the future. We’ve got a lot of work the sadness of leaving friends and family, ahead of us. and the joy and excitement My second responsibility of joining the team here in as commander is to take care Afghanistan. of people. No surprise there. The Change of Command It means bringing in the ceremony at Qalaa House right people for the various was a moving event that jobs we have. It also means underscored the continuity of making sure that quality-of- the mission here. It allowed life matters are in order so Col. Michael McCormick to you can just focus on your essentially give command jobs. You shouldn’t have to over to the incoming worry about food or where Story by | Paul Giblin Photos by | Joe Marek commander – that would you’re going to go to the gym. Col. Thomas Magness speaks to Corps of Engineers personnel during the change of command on July 8. be me – and we kept rolling I also want to ensure that we along. have a support network in I’m proud to join the team place back home. and I look forward to getting As the Army says, “Mission Col. Magness takes charge of into the field to spend some first. People always.” time with each one of you My third responsibility to find out more about your as your commander is the piece of the mission. More importantly, efficient use of resources. Corps of Engineers in Kabul I want to find out how I can help you be We’ve got nearly $4 billion worth of work. successful. How do we account for that? Are we handling KABUL, Afghanistan – Col. Thomas Change of Command ceremony at the Qalaa Ultimately, that’s the role of the district it in such a way that when somebody wants Magness took command of the U.S. Army House compound in downtown Kabul. “The commander. to take a look, we’re on high ground? Are Corps of Engineers’ district in Kabul on July greatest privilege we give Army officers I don’t do design. I don’t do quality we being good stewards of the taxpayers’ 8, becoming the district’s ninth leader since today is command. And there is no greater assurance. All I can do is enable your success. money? it was established in 2004. assignment than command in a wartime If there is anything that would allow you to So my job is taking care of those Magness, who previously headed the Los theater.” do your jobs better, that would allow you responsibilities: Accomplish the mission, Angeles District, succeeds Col. Michael He credited McCormick for assembling a to serve your customers better, that would take care of people, and manage our resources McCormick, who commanded Afghanistan strong team, and establishing sound policies allow us to complete our mission better, in an effective and efficient way. Engineer District-North since July 9, 2009, a and conditions that position the unit for please tell me. Tell me in person or send me I’m excited to be here. I love the Corps of an e-mail. Engineers. I love our mission. I believe in period of rapid growth in scope and mission success. My first responsibility is to accomplish the what we’re doing. And I know you do, too. for the unit. The district is comprised of 627 military mission. We’ve got a great and an important mission. “I cannot tell you what an honor it is to personnel and civilians stationed in This year and next year we’re scheduled to If we work together, we’ll be successful. take command of this outstanding unit Kabul and across eastern and northern do nearly $4 billion worth of work. Now, how Thanks for what you do and I look forward today,” Magness told about 300 Corps of Afghanistan. The unit’s primary mission are we going to do $4 billion worth of work? I to seeing you soon. Engineers employees and guests during a is to bolster Afghanistan’s infrastructure

4 5 McCormick going, ‘Sir, you may hear about months beyond his own. this and I just wanted you to know that … ’ The focus of his command, McCormick and fill in the blank about whose toes he’d said, was the important work of rebuilding stepped on, or whose shins he’d kicked, or Afghanistan by delivering infrastructure whose sensibilities he may have put aside to projects that benefit Afghan security accomplish a mission,” Buckler said. forces and Afghan residents. “I found these The mission will go uninterrupted, Buckler objectives are much easier said than done, said, because Magness’ experience, and in particularly in such a complex operating particular his tour as commander of the environment,” he said. Los Angeles District for three years, will The work was extraordinarily difficult, serve him well as he takes over. “It certainly though the Corps of Engineers team achieved demonstrates the Army’s capability to pick many significant objectives, he said. Among qualified commanders to lead organizations them: like this in a combat environment,” he said. yy Progress toward an Afghan national police McCormick used the change of command training center in Wardak Province. to thank personnel within the Corps of yy Development of more than 75 Afghan Engineers, other U.S. agencies, Afghan national army and police facilities across ministries and contracting companies who the country. had served either alongside him or under yy New standard designs for the buildings him during his command. “The last 12 that cut costs and construction times. months have mostly flown by, and I must say yy A program that provides armed military that I’ve very much enjoyed working with all escorts for Corps of Engineers personnel in you,” he told those assembled. the field. He thanked many people by name, including yy A procedure that closely monitors personnel whose tours in Afghanistan had contractors’ construction schedules. Incoming commander Col. Thomas Magness, left, congratulates outgoing commander Col. Michael ended weeks or months earlier, and those yy A program that allows the Corps of McCormick, right, as Brig. Gen. William Buckler looks on. whose tours in country extend weeks or Engineers to hire Afghan nationals. system after three decades of conflict by Kabul, and Afghanistan Engineer District- building army bases, police stations, roads, South, which was established at Kandahar airstrips and other facilities. Airfield in Kandahar. Brig. Gen. William Buckler awarded North district personal provided critical McCormick the Bronze Star Medal for support to help the South district get started, exceptional meritorious achievement while Buckler said. serving as commander of the district. During “That selfless service, that selfless attitude a speech that followed, that all of you embody, starts Buckler recognized with Col. McCormick’s McCormick for selfless and leadership,” Buckler said. tenacious service. I cannot tell you “You think that happened by He noted that McCormick what an honor it is to accident? No. By the result guided the district as its of tremendous effort and manpower swelled from take command of this work. And Col. McCormick approximately 450 to more outstanding unit today. embodies the type of ethic than 600, doubling the size required to do that.” of some branches. Buckler -- Col. Thomas Magness The brigadier general emphasized that the growth also recalled the colonel’s came during a time when the unwavering dedication to original Afghanistan Engineer District split his assignment. He said he’d lost count of the into two separate divisions – Afghanistan number of times McCormick called him late Engineer District-North, which retained the at night. Architect Bogdan Figiel, front left, and other civilian Corps of Engineers employees participate in the original headquarters at Qalaa House in “I’d pick up the phone and it would be Col. ceremony that’s steeped in military tradition.

6 7 opportunity assistant for the district, joined Afterward, McCormick said his final the band in performing the “Star-Spangled farewells to employees and guests inside Banner.” the Qalaa House building, before departing Chaplain Martin Booth for his next assignment gave the invocation. The in Seattle, where he will guests included Maj. Gens. That selfless service, coordinate defense support William Grisoli and Timothy for the Federal Emergency McHale; Jim Bersson, that selfless attitude that Management Agency. the director of the Joint Meanwhile, Magness Program Integration Office; all of you embody, starts greeted employees and and Naeem Yassin, the with Col. McCormick’s guests in the not-quite- president of the Afghanistan completed new dining Builders Association, among leadership. facility at Qalaa House, others. -- Brig. Gen. William Buckler video-taped an introduction The band concluded the to district employees in event with “Essayons,” “The outlying posts, met with Army Song” and other selections, including groups of employees, and represented the “Gonna Fly Now,” the theme song to the Corps of Engineers that evening at a media movie “Rocky.” event at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul.

Corps of Engineers personnel and guests show their respect during the playing of U.S. national anthem.

yy Partnerships with various Afghan First, Command Sgt. Mjr. Calvin Williams, government agencies, business the senior enlisted Soldier in the unit, passed organizations and trade schools. the flag to McCormick, symbolizing his last yy Initiatives to develop and hire small Afghan act of allegiance to the outgoing commander. businesses. Then McCormick passed the flag that bears yy And policies to fight corruption and force the Corps of Engineers’ castle logo to Bucker, contractors to pay their employees and signifying that the unit is never without suppliers promptly. senior leadership. “Successes in these programs, projects and Next, Buckler passed it to Magness, initiatives and many others like them are symbolizing the transfer of responsibility for directly attributed to the many dedicated the unit and its members to the incoming AED employees and the teamwork displayed commander. Finally, Magness completed by the U.S., coalition and Afghan partners, the rite by passing the flag back to Williams, and the design and construction contractors,” showing his confidence in the senior the outgoing commander said. enlisted Soldier, and allowing Williams to Under sunny skies outside the namesake demonstrate his first act of allegiance to him. Qalaa House building, McCormick and The Army 101st Airborne Division Magness followed longstanding Army Screaming Eagles Band opened the tradition as they passed the unit’s red- ceremony playing the U.S. and Afghan and-white flag to represent the transfer of national anthems. Civilian vocalist authority from one commander to another. Shawn Washington, an equal employment Marine Staff Sgt. John Kirk joined other military personnel in the time-honored ceremony.

8 9 reviews and learning from our experiences. Commander emphasizes I really felt strongly about what I’ve seen in the military and I thought that it would business of leadership resonate with other people. And I started writing. I have a passion for writing. It all KABUL, Afghanistan – If you should kind of came together and hopefully other happen to get Col. Thomas Magness talking people will benefit from that. about leadership, prepare to settle in for a while. He wrote the book on the topic – What was your writing process? literally. Q: During a 30-minute question-and-answer session in his Qalaa House office, the new A: 4 a.m. came awfully early every day for commander discussed his up-coming book, about three months. THOMAS his decision to accept the post of commander I had written a lot of that over time. When for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ district I got to Los Angeles, I kind of lost some in northern Afghanistan, his family and why momentum. A friend of mine suggested just the date of the interview, July 12, marked writing a leadership blog, so I started a little something of an occasion for him. blog that keep me writing about every week, And let the record show: Magness maybe sometimes twice a week. So I had previously served as commander for the enough material. Corps of Engineers’ Los Angeles and Detroit Then for three or four months at 4 a.m., one districts. He’s had a number of teaching or two hours a day, it was just cranking it all assignments, including at the U.S. Military out and putting it all together. It was a lot Academy at West Point, N.Y., and the harder that I thought it would be. It’s easy National Training Center at Fort Irwin, to write a short little three-paragraph blog. Calif. He earned a bachelor’s degree in It’s a lot more difficult to weave the thread mechanical engineering from West Point, all the way through, chapter after chapter, and a master’s degree in civil engineering to make it coherent. from the University of Texas at Austin. Somehow, it came together.

Question: You’ve written a soon-to- Q: On a similar topic, what motivates you? be-published book on leadership. Why did you write it and what are the key points? A: My family. I don’t want to let them down. I’m motivated by people. I’m generally a Answer: I used the framework from positive person. I try to bring energy to every the National Training Center where you situation. What I really enjoy is the challenge plan an operation, you prepare yourself and of a mission and the thrill of victory. I’m truly MAGNESS your unit; you execute it; and then you learn motivated to accomplish the mission. from what you did. It’s kind of a cycle in everything we do in Q: You specifically chose the mission here the Army, and certainly in the Corps. In life, in Afghanistan. What led to your decision to you’re constantly in some phase of that. take the post? So I tried to look for leadership themes that I’ve seen in the military that I’ve A: You know, I was seriously considering experienced in the Corps of Engineers in all retirement after my tour of duty in Los of those elements – planning, whether it’s Angeles. What better place to join the civilian casting a vision, creating plans for a theme, workforce than Southern California? or empowering people; No. 1 is getting the job But the chief asked. And as I thought about Story by | Paul Giblin Photos by | Joe Marek done, execution; then conducting after-action an opportunity to command again, and this

10 11 time to do it in a wartime theater where the are preparing for combat – training them, things that are critical, you’ve got to get stakes were higher, the challengers were certainly, on leadership elements, but also A: Well, this is the introduction to my book. done. greater, the opportunity for me to give back, on the tactical components of being a combat Very early in my career, when I was a young lieutenant, when I assumed wrongly and to be a part of something that was bigger engineer and being part of a maneuver team. Q: What traits make a good team member? than me, was something that I couldn’t say I love being a trainer. I love teaching that elements of leadership were not necessarily my responsibility, my boss, the no to. people, the rewards of that. At the National A: For me, any team member that I work Training Center, we established a roadside battalion commander, came and said, “This is leader business. This is what leaders do. with ought to bring energy. They ought What do you hope to achieve during your bomb training center. It didn’t exist before. Q: It’s the full range of leader responsibilities. to bring their best. If you find a team that command here? We knew that was important. You can’t just pick and choose which things consists of people who are positive, energetic But I think my legacy lies with the people and are willing to do whatever it takes to I’ve worked with. If I’ve inspired them to you’re going to be responsible for and assume A: Between this fiscal year and next fiscal that somebody else is going to take care of accomplish the mission – if you’ve got an year, we’ve got about $4 billion worth of some higher level of greatness, I think entire team that’s committed that way, in my ultimately that’s what any leader can say the rest. If you lead a unit, you own it and construction. I want to get the mission done. you’re responsible for all of it.” opinion, they can’t fail. There’s no obstacle I want to find a way to get dirt moved and is their greatest accomplishment – what they can’t overcome. they’ve done for other people. That’s what my boss called leader business. steel into the ground. And to accomplish I’ve kind of spent 25 years in the Army What I look for in a team member is a that very sizable and very challenging trying to figure out what leaders bring to an willingness to help each other, to hold each What’s your proudest accomplishment construction workload. Q: organization. That’s probably the greatest other accountable, to pick up the slack. If outside of work? Beyond that, I hope that we can put some advice I got. they have their piece done, to come in and systems into place. We can get good people I’ve had a series of commanders and great share the workload, with the understanding and continue the pipeline that brings people A: I have two daughters. One of them is a leaders I’ve worked with, each of whom that it’s not about them; it’s about the team. in. Six to 12-month assignments means you sophomore in college. One’s getting ready shaped me differently, some of whom helped It’s not about their own personal goals and always need new talent. to start her freshman year in high school. me understand what it meant to cast a vision, objectives and accomplishments; it’s about I want to look for opportunities to share I can’t think of something more important some of whom have helped me understand whether or not the team is successful. what we’re doing with the rest of the Corps that I’ve accomplished than raising two girls what it means to relate to every individual If you’ve got team members that are of Engineers, so that it’s easier to recruit, so to be young women. They’re just sweet, sweet like they matter because they do. thinking that way, as I said, there’s nothing that more people want to join us. We want children. I’m really proud of that. Any number of commanders I can think they can’t do. to be a fully staffed organization, because I’m proud of this book – if it gets to market of, or even people outside the military, have I think that’s what it’s going to take to – because I know how hard I had to work to helped shape my leadership style. Q: You’re something of a gym rat. What’s accomplish this very sizeable mission. pull it all together. As I said, a lot harder your routine? At the end of the day, I want to execute. I than I thought. Speaking of leadership responsibilities, want to get the job done. So, as I think of things outside of work, I Q: what’s a challenging work issue you had to A: My routine is every day. If I don’t get think of things like that. face, and how did you deal with it? in there, I get a little irritable. It’s for two Q: No doubt that’s a big task. Looking back reasons: over your career, what do you consider your What are your daughters’ names? Q: I think maybe the greatest challenge One – I believe in physical fitness. I single biggest accomplishment? A: is when you have more work than you have believe that helps you maintain the level of A: Jenna is the about-to-be 19-year- people to do it. Certainly even here in AED- energy you have to bring to any situation. A: I don’t think I could say that there was old sophomore in college. She goes to the North, we’ve got a monumental workload, so And certainly as a leader, you’re always anything that I did by myself. I’ve always University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, you’ve to prioritize. That means some things on display and you ought to bring a level been a part of some great and powerful Texas. Shelby is 14 years old and is going will be No. 1 priority and other things won’t. of fitness, stage presence, and that sort of teams. to be a freshman at the Port of Los Angeles You’ve got to be willing to understand where thing. So, you know, it’s important to me I did two tours of duty at the National charter school in San Pedro, California. you draw the line and say, “This is what from that regard. Training Center at Fort Hood, an assignment we’ve got to get done, and these are some Two – I love to eat. There’s no way I can that most people would think would be the Q: On a personal note, what’s the best piece things where we can assume some risk and maintain my level of eating if I don’t have a kiss of death and that they hope they never of advice anyone’s given you? Who gave you perhaps defer, perhaps mitigate it in some commensurate level of fitness, so I have to get. I volunteered to go back a second time. I the advice? What were the circumstances? other fashion.” get into the gym every day. loved every minute of it. How do you continue to use that advice I would say one of the biggest challenges in Probably the most rewarding thing for today? any position is trying to do more with less. Q: What question should I have asked, but me was four years of training people who It means you’ve got to prioritize, and those haven’t?

12 13 A: You asked some good questions, but I Q: Hey, happy birthday. I’ll take care of didn’t tell you about my wife Michelle. You all that background stuff in the introduction could have asked me about her. I’ve got a to the article, but, um, it occurs to me that beautiful picture of my family there. She’s I want to ask you about your wife Michelle. my rock. Where’d you meet her? You could have asked me more about my background. I like to tell people who ask how A: I met her in Texas, my first assignment. long I’ve been in the Army that I’ve been in She was a little school teacher at Fort Hood the Army – as of today – 47 years. and I was a butter bar second lieutenant when we got married. Q: Forty-seven years? Q: What was the occasion? A: Now, you’re looking me and you’re going, “If I do the math, you look pretty good for A: It was at a party, friends getting together. that age!” I saw some sweet young thing and struck up But the reality is that I was born into a a conversation. And a year, almost to the day military family. My father was in the Corps from the time we met, we got married. of Engineers, retired as a colonel. I was born at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, in a military Q: Excellent. And with that, we’re wrapped hospital, and I’ve been in the Army my entire up. Thanks. life. And, as of today, which is my birthday, 47 years in the Army. A: OK. Good to go. Thank you. Liftoff! New runway at Forward Operating Base Shank supports the military mission

Story by | Paul Giblin Photo | Peter Gauer

The first C-130 transport plane to use the FOB Shank airstrip heads skyward after delivering supplies.

KABUL, Afghanistan – A C-130 transport complement of fire equipment is in place, airplane rumbled in for a landing on new said U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project $11.8 million runway at Forward Operating manager Dennis Lindemeier, who oversaw Base Shank on June 24, christening a new development of the project. era of air transportation for the base in The airstrip near the city of Puli Alam Logar Province, south of Kabul. is important to the military mission in Before completion of the runway, Shank Afghanistan because it allows greater was accessible only by ground transportation flexibility in moving troops and equipment, and helicopters. The 1.4-mile airstrip can Lindemeier said. More than 4,500 U.S. and accommodate large military transport coalition personnel are stationed at Shank. planes, such as the Lockheed C-130 Work on the runway began in May 2009. Hercules and the Boeing C-17 Globemaster Army Capt. Andrew Stockhoff, who has III transport plane. since redeployed, served a critical role as Smaller aircraft got an earlier start, resident area officer in charge during most first using the concrete airstrip on June of the construction, Lindemeier said. Area 18. And C-17s have yet to touch down, but engineer Peter Gauer and resident engineer are expected to use the runway after a full Daniel Wilson also played key roles.

14 15 15 systems and equipment for the buildings and in these facilities who take care of them, then grounds. it’s all going to disintegrate,” Reed said. “And “Those contracts cover everything from the ability of the government to keep their Up and running changing the light bulbs to unclogging toilets,” military functioning will fail due to the fact Operations and Maintenance branch keeps facilities in working order said Tim Brown, deputy program manager that their soldiers don’t have water out at for the Corps of Engineers’ Operations and their sites, or electricity or things like that.” Maintenance Branch in Kabul The Corps of Engineers’ Operations and An important facet for some of the contracts Maintenance Branch also authorizes and is that they require maintenance company oversees minor new construction jobs at workers to teach operations and maintenance Afghan security forces’ facilities. Recent jobs skills to Afghan government workers who have included the installation of a ventilation are expected to take over the duties when system in an existing wood-fired kitchen, U.S. and coalition forces leave the country. construction of an awning to provide shade Corps of Engineers personnel likewise provide for soldiers, and upgrades to existing security instruction. parameter walls. “When you’re looking at the overall transition In May 2010, the Corps of Engineers’ district plan for O&M, our goal is to be out of here in in north Afghanistan provided services for by 2014,” Brown said. “We’re training them 80 Afghan army locations and 110 Afghan in key areas of operations and maintenance – police locations. As the Corps of Engineers plumbing, electrical, HV/AC and carpentry.” and other coalition agencies build more The training component is critical facilities in Afghanistan, the Operations and to the Corps of Engineers’ Maintenance Branch’s role is scheduled to mission in Afghanistan, increase accordingly. said Ray Reed, deputy The total Operations and Maintenance chief of the branch. budget in the north is projected to more than “If we leave double from $135 million in fiscal 2010 to $385 this country million in 2012. and there Civil engineer Charlie Bechtold and site a r e n ’ t manager Alan Schlachter organized the Story and photos by | Paul Giblin p e o p l e inspection at Task Force Kabul. The on- site review was intended to allow Corps of Mechanical engineer Rex Mols scrutinizes the overhead electrical and mechanical systems in Engineers personnel to ascertain the condition one of the barracks buildings at Task Force Kabul. of the compound that’s designed to house as ABUL, Afghanistan – Civil engineer U.S. Army Corps of Engineers personnel many as 1,300 troops. KThomas Urbaniak carefully examined scrutinized during their inspection. The U.S. Bechtold, Schlachter, Urbaniak, mechanical the welding work on an exterior staircase at Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency engineer Rex Mols and electrical engineer an Afghan military base called Task Force is overseeing construction of the compound Shafak Pervez spent the better part of the Kabul. that’s nearing completion. day canvassing the compound, checking Some of the welds at the barracks building Upon completion, the Corps of Engineers concrete work, electrical systems, simply lay atop of the joints they were will assume operations and maintenance plumbing systems and more. supposed to have joined. Good welds would for the facility, as it has done for other Task Force Kabul has 45 have been smooth and flat. In contrast, the Afghanistan National Army bases and structures including welds he spotted during an inspection of the Afghanistan National Police stations eight barracks, complex on June 17 were coarse and lumpy. across the country. The Corps of Engineers a dining He photographed the welds from several works closely with two contracted service angles and later noted in a report that the companies that provide most operations and joints were poor quality. “I question the maintenance duties at the facilities. strength,” he wrote. The scope of work covers both scheduled The staircase joints were among dozens and unscheduled maintenance, plus the of details that Urbaniak and a team of repair, replacement and renovation of The barracks are sturdy but simple.

16 17 facility, a waste-water treatment plant, a The compound was nearly complete, but well and a power plant. Armed security the projected full opening had been delayed personnel shadowed the Corps of Engineers because a truck that was transporting team the entire time. electrical transformers was involved in a Also, Anthony LaRosee, the project traffic accident that destroyed the equipment. manager for Colorado-based CH2N Hill Air Force contractors installed temporary Constructors Inc., which is serving as the power generators to be used until another prime contractor for the compound, walked set of electrical transformers arrives, so that with the Corps of Engineers workers, taking the facility would be able to open within notes to ensure that their concerns were weeks. A number of U.S. troops also will addressed before CH2N Hill wrapped up the take residence in the camp to mentor their job. Afghan counterparts. The inspectors checked nearly every The buildings at the compound were facet of the barracks – walls, floors, doors, designed and built to withstand heavy windows, the electrical system, stairs, the use, Bechtold said. However, sink fixtures heating and cooling system and more. The and ceiling tiles, among other items, are two-story buildings featured simple and somewhat likely to be damaged by Afghan solid construction designs and materials, soldiers, many of whom have had no prior including cast-in-place foundations, concrete experience with faucets, suspended ceilings floors, masonry walls and K-span roofs. and other modern-era building materials, he The overall quality looked good, Urbaniak said. said. “From our experience, we just know that “Mainly, we went out there and used some things won’t last,” he said. Civil engineer Charlie Bechtold inspects holding tanks at the our knowledge of what’s good and bad in In contrast, other features, such as heavy- waste water treatment plant at Task Force Kabul, an Afghan army this country,” he said. “From the quality duty stoves in the dining facility and painted complex that will house as many as 1,300 soldiers. assurance standpoint, we’ve seen a number concrete floors in all of the buildings are more of projects around the country and we know likely to endure long after U.S. and coalition what the code says, so we were able to find forces leave Afghanistan. things.”

18 19 Parting shot It’s gotta be the shoes! Air Force Staff Sgt. Paul Kelly from the Force Pro team goes vertical for a spike as capacity development project manager Seyar Ziayeen, left, of the Afghan Local Nationals team prepares for a block during first- round action of the Independence Day volleyball tournament at Qalaa House on July 4. Despite Kelly’s high-flying efforts, Force Pro fell in the championship match to the Kabul Area Office Spikers, a team comprised of Army Lt. Col. Joe Danao, project engineer John Heard, demining and safety specialist Clint Henker, resident engineer Mike Kessler, Army Capt. Jesus Perez, construction representative Ramon Sierra and Army Master Sgt. Michael Staudt.

Photo by | Hank Heusinkveld