BAGHDAD - The "Gators" of Company A, 46th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy), based in Fort Polk, La., completed construction on a battalion aid station at Joint Security Station Ur March 28.
"We have been waiting a long time for this," stated 1st Sgt. Roger Joyce, a native of Orlando, Fla., the current mayor of JSS Ur.
The scope of work called for the construction of a 2,100 square foot wood frame structure for medical operations and the initial estimates for the project predicted that it would take over a month to complete the structure from ground up. But, the experienced team of highly proficient engineers was able to complete the project in an impressive 24 construction days.
The battalion aid station (BAS) had been slated for construction back in November 2008, but was reprioritized in order to expand billeting space at other locations.
"I have learned a lot about my peers and electricity," stated Pvt. Daniel Almquist, electrician, from Chicago, who recently joined the unit and assisted in the construction.
During the BAS mission at Ur, junior enlisted Soldiers like Almquist were able to train with seasoned Soldiers and gain valuable engineer experience. Spc. Travis Peters, a native of Carrollton, Ill., and the lead electrician on the project spent many hours mentoring Soldiers in his team.
The new Battalion Aid Station is now a reality for the occupants of JSS Ur and consists of four trauma/exam rooms, two offices, a pharmacy, and can accommodate up to 50 Soldiers at a time. The facility is a vast improvement from the old aid station which was just a converted containerized-housing unit. The new aid station will give Soldiers basing at JSS Ur a quality treatment facility for receiving medical care.
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