ECES celebrates Iraqi accomplishment
Maj. Jennifer Phelps, 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron engineering flight chief, cuts the ceremonial ribbon at the opening of the first renovation project completed entirely by an Iraqi contractor at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, Aug. 31, 2010. The 332 ECES and Joint Base Balad Regional Contracting Command oversaw the Iraqi contractor, engineers and craftsman with the goal to build capacity in the local area construction industry. The original four-month timeline to complete the two buildings was cut to 81 days. Capacity building is a critical aspect of the responsible drawdown of forces as the U.S. military works towards its complete departure from Iraq at the end of 2011. (332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron courtesy photo)