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Bucca

The 194th Engineer Brigade has been busy working on numerous projects since its deployment to Iraq in January of this year. One project of significance is base improvements at Camp Bucca.

In April, a team of soldiers from the Construction Management Section of the 194th was sent to Camp Bucca to assume duties as Facility Engineers. Their job is to provide construction management, base master planning, staff and design capabilities along with quality assurance and quality control for all ongoing construction projects throughout the camp.

When the deployment ends, major accomplishments will include the completion of 152 "SEA" huts in five compounds, placement of over 1900 "HESCO" barriers and placement of over 1600 concrete barriers. Also completed will be a helipad, a motor pool administrative office, drop down gates at the garrison entrance, a garrison stage, two class IV yards, gun truck fighting positions, improvements to guard towers, and many other projects too numerous to mention. In addition, the team has assisted in the installation of a new concrete plant.

According to Sergeant First Class Michael O'Connor, who is the NCOIC (Non-Commissioned Officer in charge) of the Bucca team, horizontal construction platoons from the 133rd Engineer Company, Wyoming Army National Guard, vertical construction platoons from Bravo Company, 891st Engineer Battalion, Kansas Army National Guard and Alpha/Charlie Company's from the 844th Engineer Battalion, Army Reserve, performs the project construction tasks.

The 194th Engineer Brigade Construction Management team members in Bucca are Major George Hoadley (officer in charge), Major James LeFevre, Sergeant First Class Michael O'Connor, Sergeant First Class Glyn Jones, Sergeant Thomas Duckworth, Sergeant Scott Rice, Sergeant Chad Hunley and Specialist Arthur Weaver.

The 194th Engineer Brigade (TA), Tennessee Army National Guard from Jackson, was mobilized in October of 2004 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 04-06.

Soldiers from the 133rd EN CO are improving base guard towers.

Construction of a new base helipad.

Construction of a new base maintenance administrative office.

New concrete batch plant.

Sergeant First Class Michael O'Connor (far left) and Major George Hoadley (center) discuss what must be completed for the night regarding TIF (theater internment facility) construction at Camp Bucca with (second from left) Ray Seeley, KBR QA/QC; Captain Lou Decicco, 844th EN BN; MAJ Hoadley; LTC Don Hoffmeister, 194th EN BDE; SFC Gary Hanshaw, 891st EN BN; MAJ Sam Hines, 194th EN BDE; and 1LT Christopher Carter, 891st EN BN.

The Construction Management team in Bucca. From left front row: Sergeant Scott Rice, Sergeant Chad Hunley and Sergeant Thomas Duckworth. From left back row: Specialist Arthur Weaver, Sergeant First Class Glyn Jones, Sergeant First Class Michael O'Connor and Major George Hoadley. Not pictured is Major James LeFevre

891st EN BN soldier cutting REBAR for concrete forms.

891st EN BN soldiers pouring a SEA hut concrete pad in the TIF.

844th EN BN soldiers finishing a SEA hut concrete pad in the TIF.

844th EN BN soldiers constructing a typical SEA hut in the TIF.

Story and photos by SFC Pete Quinton, S-5/PAO,
194th Engineer Brigade (TA)
APO AE 09331