One such example is the recent move of Soldiers to Camp Shaibah and turning an empty space into a temporary home.
“When we first came here, there was nothing!” said Pfc. Anthony Romero, food service specialist, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Special Troops Battalion. “We’ve got everything we need now.”
He admits there is room for improvement, but said things have improved drastically already, and with additional projects underway he feels confident the camp leadership will continue to look out for the Soldiers’ welfare.
“This was an empty desert space converted into a full living area,” said 1st Lt. Shawn Peterson, camp commander, HHC, STB. When Soldiers began arriving at the end of May, they were crowded into an empty hanger and took showers with a plastic water bag, hose and showerhead. Soldiers ate packaged Meals, Ready to Eat, or drove to a neighboring camp on the installation for food.
Shower buildings and sleeping tents were built. The living tents are comfortable and spacious with are air-conditioning and power outlets for Soldiers to use their laptops and entertainment equipment.
There are also force protection measures surrounding the whole area and individual areas within, said Peterson. There is a Morale, Welfare and Recreation tent with an internet café, a gym tent, a mobile kitchen trailer and a cafeteria tent. Soldiers are able to work in tents as well. All of the tents have air-conditioning and power.
The 10 computers and four phones are especially important to the Soldiers, said Spc. Jade Claybrook, military police, HHC, STB. The Colorado Springs, Colo. resident, said being able to stay connected to his wife and infant son helps him focus on his mission and deal with the sacrifice of being apart from his family.
The gym tent currently has only dumbbells, a bench and dip bars, though there are plans to acquire more equipment.
It might not be much of a gym yet, said Romero, but it is enough that Soldiers can still get a good workout.
“Our goal is for the Soldiers to have everything they need so they can focus on their mission,” said Peterson, who comes from Tacoma, Wash. “We worked hard to have an improved and higher quality of life for the Soldiers.”
He applauded his Soldiers for the hard work and their dedication to their fellow Soldiers. “These guys have done an amazing job! They designed and built the entire camp in two weeks.” He also said the work could not have been done so quickly without the partnership and assistance of their Iraqi neighbors from the 14th Iraqi Army Division.
