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| Iraq |
| Securing a military academy |
| 2006-01-28 |
| Zakho, Iraq- In northern Iraq, there is a school under reconstruction that may have a greater impact on the future of Iraq than any other reconstruction effort. The school is Zakho Military Academy. As important as oil, electricity, water, health care, and primary education are to Iraq's future, educating those already identified to be the future leaders of Iraq will provide direction in the same manner as a rudder steers a large ship. Zakho Military Academy is one of Iraq's two national military officer academies and is equivalent to the U.S. Army's Military Academy at West Point. The force protection upgrades performed on the academy are now complete. These upgrades included the design and construction of nine guard towers located around the perimeter of the ZMA compound, installation of lighting on the perimeter wall, and the renovation of two compound entrances. The lighting will provide protection and security to the Iraqi Army cadre and cadets who live on campus. The guard towers will serve both as training opportunities for the cadets to learn first hand the nuances of guard mount, and as operational guard posts for the facility. The new entrances will inspire awe, determination, and commitment to entering cadets in the same manner as entering the gates of West Point, Annapolis, or the Air Force Academy have been symbolic for those entering training to become the nation's leaders in the U.S. Other force protection projects included a new munitions storage facility and upgrades to the armory. The armory includes rooms for weapons issue, weapons maintenance and cleaning, and weapons racks and lockers for storing both rifles and pistols. The weapons storage rooms were equipped with their own independent air handling. The new munitions storage facility commonly called an ammunition supply point is a four meters by six meters brick building with elevated pads to keep the ammunition off the floor. The facility is secured by a three-meter-high berm, a cyclone fence with razor wire around its perimeter, and lights. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose |