Mobile Security Det 31 Works with Iraqi Marines on Oil Terminals

Navy NewsStand ^ | Nov 23, 2005 | Photographer's Mate 1st Class Curt Cooper, Commander

[SandRat]

AL BASRA OIL TERMINAL, Persian Gulf (NNS) -- Mobile Security Detachment (MSD) 31 relieved the Norfolk, Va.,-based MSD 25 on the Al Basra (ABOT) and Khwar Al Amaya (KAAOT) oil terminals in the Persian Gulf in early November, continuing the U.S. and coalition commitment to ensuring security and stability in the region by working with Iraqi marines on the oil terminals.

In an interview Nov. 20, the Officer in Charge of MSD 31, Lt. Garth Kaliczak, said his most important mission during his unit’s tour is the security of Iraq’s two oil terminals in the Persian Gulf.

"Without these platforms, [the Iraqis] would not be able to fund much of the reconstruction they are doing right now, and without this oil income, there is definitely lack of resources for them to get started on the things they need to do,” said Kaliczak. “Being a part of this is probably one of the most important things I've ever done in my life. Helping in the rebuilding and reconstitution of a nation is probably the most rewarding thing I'll ever do.”

ABOT and KAAOT account for a significant percentage of Iraq's revenue and play a vital role in the rebuilding process.

MSD 31, based in San Diego, serves a dual role on the oil platforms. They are charged not only with the security of Iraq’s oil terminals, but they are also training their Iraqi counterparts to provide security for the oil platforms.

According to Chief Hospital Corpsman Kenneth Puckett, platform leading chief petty officer and a Clarksville, Tenn., native, the Iraqi military is benefiting from the training received from the Sailors of MSD 31.

“We have been on this platform for a while now, and we've pretty much been running [security] and been responsible for it,” said Puckett. “Once the Iraqis start standing the post on their own, I think they will discover more of a sense of ownership [of security]. Out here we run some high-speed, up-tempo drills, and we also do evaluations on the Iraqi [marines] to ensure that they are picking up the proper techniques and standards and they are able execute those concepts,” he added.

MSD 31 is part of Combined Task Force 58, a multinational coalition led by Royal Navy Commodore Bruce Williams, responsible for conducting maritime security operations (MSO) in the Persian Gulf.

MSO seek to preserve the free and secure use of the world’s oceans by legitimate mariners, and prevent terrorists from attempting to use the maritime environment as a venue for attack or as a medium to transport personnel, weapons or other illicit material.

[SandRat]

The author is being cross trained I think.

[SandRat]

Navy PING!

[jwpjr]

Funny how the MSM and the Lefties so conveniently ignore how well Iraq's oil business is doing. Seems to me any discussion of whether we are winning or losing the war would have to include details on how the situation has changed, for the better, since the early days of the war when there were frequent attacks on oil producing facilities.

Just another facet of the war the MSM and Lefties don't care to discuss.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[Just mythoughts]

Free flowing Iraqi oil will expose Chavez's little charity oil dump in the NorthEast for the political scam it is.

These liberals have been screaming this war is about OIL and that it is, who will control the world's OIL supply, leftists or free civilized nations.

[jwpjr]

I love the way they cry about the war being about oil, apparently not realizing how just how dependent they are on a continued free flow of reasonably priced oil. They want to live their spartan lifestyle without giving any credit to those who make it possible by doing the things they claim to reject, like operating power plants!

[Just mythoughts]

"I love the way they cry about the war being about oil, apparently not realizing how just how dependent they are on a continued free flow of reasonably priced oil. They want to live their spartan lifestyle without giving any credit to those who make it possible by doing the things they claim to reject, like operating power plants!"

Yes their cries over war for oil was the first salvo in the attempt to smear "free" flow of oil, as they have never cried the same cries over the UN's 'Oil for rotten Food' scam.

They then presented the willing Cindy Sheehan as the face of the war, but then she blew it by NOT staying on the message and went after Hillry, and demanding our own citizens of the military out of helping Katrina citizens.

So apparently knowing that things are moving along and there was the anticipation of our military sending home a number of troops, there was the need to demand the troops be 'withdrawn' they can then claim it was because of them when anyone returns home over the next year.

What is so very twisted about their political plays is that the enemy is stimulated by the appearance of defeating the USA.... 'withdrawal' has no other meaning to the uncivilized terrorists.