‘Concrete Warriors’ Protect Soldiers in Iraq

American Forces Press Service ^ | Spc. Josh LeCappelain, USA

[SandRat]

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq, Oct. 9, 2008 – They stand everywhere the eye can see -- brave warriors, tall and proud. Never flinching, never surrendering, these protectors never take time off – the thought never even crosses their minds.

T-walls protect servicemembers and civilians outside the Multinational Division Center headquarters at Camp Liberty, Iraq. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Josh LeCappelain  
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Of course, not a lot crosses your mind when you are made of concrete.

They are called T-walls, named after their unique, upside-down “T” shape. All over Iraq, wherever you see coalition forces bases, you see T-walls.

T-walls are designed to protect against bomb and sniper attacks, explained Army Staff Sgt. Mineris Figueroa-Agosto, West Liberty Logistics Support Area force protection noncommissioned officer in charge. “If you don’t have any up, it leaves you exposed and a safety risk,” she said.

Figueroa-Agosto said a variety of different companies and batch plants, including local Iraqi-operated companies, create the T-walls. “We go to them to try to increase the economy for local vendors,” she said, noting that each T-wall costs about $800.

To meet Multinational Force Iraq standards, T-walls must be 12 feet high and 12 feet away from buildings to reduce the risks of damage to buildings or vehicles should a T-wall topple. Some T-walls around the Victory Base Complex are only 10 feet tall, but a project is under way to ensure that all T-walls fall within the required regulatory size. The T-walls now are composed entirely of concrete – a change from earlier versions that also contained Styrofoam.

When soldiers assigned to mayor’s cells around the complex receive new T-walls, they carefully inspect them, ensuring that they have no imperfections that would limit their effectiveness. A 5-percent margin of error is accepted; a higher error rate could lead to vendors losing their contracts to create the walls.

Figueroa-Agosto said her logistics support area has about 2,000 T-walls, and she estimated that nearly 1 million T-walls are located around the entire complex – each nine inches thick and weighing more than 6 tons.

“When soldiers come back inside the wire from missions, T-walls give them one less thing to worry about,” she said. “It’s all about their safety.”

The Task Force Mountain Web site features an ongoing discussion about what should be done with the T-walls when coalition forces leave the complex. Suggestions so far range from the serious and practical – “Ship them back to shore up the levees in New Orleans” – to the whimsical: “The world's largest domino chain.”

To participate in the conversation, go to http://www.taskforcemountain.com/mountain-sound-off/19-blog/702-t-wall-heaven.

(Army Spc. Josh LeCappelain serves in the Multinational Division Center Public Affairs Office.)

[SandRat]

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[cripplecreek]

The T-walls now are composed entirely of concrete – a change from earlier versions that also contained Styrofoam.

Reminds me of an old Traficant speech titled "You can't defend America with styrofoam".

[webschooner]

If Obozo is elected, all conservatives will need to erect T-Walls around their homes.

[mapmaker77]

It’s a very effective blast deflector.
They are relatively easy to produce, and cheaper than steel. They can be manufactured in different shapes depending on the application and all you need to move them around is a front end loader.
The styrofoam part was more to save weight than anything.

[Sarajevo]

I’m building a moat. I hear that he can’t swim. /sarc

[KodakKing]

They are great soldiers, but very expensive. On Blackwater’s monthly payroll, but I think we ought to put them in for promotion. Job well done!

[pointsal]

In Arnuld’s Kalifornia, the Dept of Transportation (Caltrans) calls those structures “sound walls”. They are part of freeway life all over the Golden State.

Anyone else notice ...that driving in Kalifornia is like travelling in a sluice box?

[Slump Tester]

Concrete is our friend!

We need to use more concrete.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

One of the very interesting discoveries of the war was that the same spray material used to make spray-on truck bed liners could be sprayed on concrete, to keep it together when a bomb goes off next to it.

Ordinarily concrete is brittle, and will fracture with a blast, spraying deadly projectiles on the far side of the explosion. But the truck liner spray makes the fractured wall still stick together.

[TheClintons-STILLAnti-American]

"They are great soldiers, but very expensive. "

Probably won't survive Commander In Chief Obama's promised massive cuts in military spending.

[SandRat]

Rhino Liner for Walls

[Eagle Eye]

I always liked HESCOs as well.

Especially the little tool kit with a mini leatherman that comes with each bundle.

[ChetNavVet]

I drove through Cali (wince) twice!! OMG!! They are insane drivers!! I was like doing a cross county thing mostly in the slow lane then BAMM!!! outside LA (just west) I Was relegated to the slow lane by “Hyper Peeps”, That thought I - me - was driving too slow, I mean really? if your doing 10% above the limit in the slow lane???? I Honestly used to belive it was worse crossing the Verrisanos bridge between Jersy and NY, at least there your going (on a good day)1MPH, Man, never again.

No, no more road trips involving road rage idiots.

And don’t even get me started about passengers!!!

[pointsal]

BMW’s and flashing high beams.... all little stock brokers headed to the nearest Starbucks..... so they can commune with other Oboy-supporters...

[ASOC]

One of these blast barriers saved my son - a nut drove up to his checkpoint, they got enuf warning to duck behind the wall when the nutter set off a 1000 pound of explosive.

Killed a bunch of hadjis at the check point (in their cars) but he and his buds got ways almost clean....some concussions were had.

[SandRat]

Angel’s shield.

[Allegra]

Ah...T-walls...they’ve been decorating my neighborhoods for nearly five years now. :)