Combat engineers: Valuable asset to U.S., Iraqi security operations in western Iraq

CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq (July 28, 2006) -- While sectarian violence appears to be on the rise in other areas of Iraq, U.S. Marines in western Al Anbar province are beefing up security at U.S. military camps here, which will eventually be turned over to Iraqi Forces.



A team of Marine combat engineers attached to the Twentynine Palms, Calif.-based 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion spent the past several months keeping roads free of improvised explosive devices and strengthening buildings and forward operating bases to keep U.S. and Iraqi military forces secure in this region.



“We’re jacks of all trades,” said Cpl. Joshua T. Raney, a 21-year-old combat engineer attached to the battalion’s engineer detachment. “Without us, a lot of weapons caches, and IEDs would not have been found, and a lot of stuff wouldn’t have been built- we just make things a little easier for everyone.”



The engineers, trained in demolition, mine detection, and construction, operate in this vast desert stretching from the Jordanian border about 120 miles east towards the Euphrates River.



Most of the engineers’ time is focused on beefing up security measures at the various U.S. military bases throughout Anbar’s western desert region. In January, engineers built an eight-foot high dirt berm around Rutbah to curb smuggling and insurgent activity.



To gain access to or leave this city of 25,000, vehicles must pass through one of three traffic control points, which are manned by Iraqi soldiers, ensuring everything that goes in and comes out is screened- limiting insurgent activity.



Rutbah is considered by U.S. military officials in Iraq as a strategic location for insurgents and smugglers, since it is located astride two main supply routes – one from Jordan, and one from Syria. Traveling east from the Syrian or Jordanian ...