Story and photo by Megan McCloskey
Stars and Stripes
CAMP TAQADDUM — The Marines said their first thought was: ‘How can anyone live like this?’
The bunkers at a nearby Iraqi army base are dark, dank and, frankly, uninhabitable — at least for any long period of time. But live in them the soldiers do, crowded into the concrete rooms, one company per bunker, with no temperature controls and very little light.
The poor living conditions contribute to the Iraqi army’s desertion problem.
“That’s the main reason we’re here,” said Gunnery Sgt. Robert Ruiz, of Engineer Support Company, 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group from Okinawa.
The Marines are doing renovation projects to make the base more livable and foster retention.
They recently fixed up the six bunkers, rewiring the power, adding lights and installing heat and air conditioning units.
Stars and Stripes
CAMP TAQADDUM — The Marines said their first thought was: ‘How can anyone live like this?’
The bunkers at a nearby Iraqi army base are dark, dank and, frankly, uninhabitable — at least for any long period of time. But live in them the soldiers do, crowded into the concrete rooms, one company per bunker, with no temperature controls and very little light.
The poor living conditions contribute to the Iraqi army’s desertion problem.
“That’s the main reason we’re here,” said Gunnery Sgt. Robert Ruiz, of Engineer Support Company, 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group from Okinawa.
The Marines are doing renovation projects to make the base more livable and foster retention.
They recently fixed up the six bunkers, rewiring the power, adding lights and installing heat and air conditioning units.
(Photo: One of the Iraqi army bunkers renovated by 9th Engineer Support Battalion Marines.)
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