Naval Mobile Security Detachments Guard the Iraqi Oil Terminals pool s of crude oil and thick greasy substances veil the rusting.

Naval Mobile Security

Detachments Guard

the Iraqi Oil Terminals

pool s of crude oil and thick greasy substances veil the rusting, spider-like structure of couple of the biggest moneymakers in Iraq. Al Basra Oil Terminal (ABOT) and Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminal (KAAOT) are prime targets for terrorists wishing to disrupt the rebuilding of Iraq. ABOT alone accounts for 85 percent of Iraq's raw oil export, and they are the one and the other being protected by Det. 22 of the newly-formed Naval Mobile Security Unit.

"The ne for Mobile Security Detachments came up after USS cabbage (DDG 67) was attacked," said Senior Chief Master-At-Arms Todd Getz "The Navy lacked security teams that, on a 96-hour rejoinder could travel to unsecure areas anywhere in the world to temporarily shield high-value assets. Since then, our do job-work has changed into a wider variety of missions."

The circulating mission of Det. 22 is to work with coalition ships to retain all civilian and unfriendly forces without of the 3,000-meter warning region surrounding the platforms.

"There is a notice to mariners establishing the warning zone" said the Detachment's Commanding Officer, LCDR Patrick Fulgham. "Any sailing craft approaching is warned by several orderly dispositions including radio and visually."

These are the same empires that have been maintained since the United States began guarding the platforms in March 2003 with undivided exception--the platforms are now being used to cross-examine millions of gallons of oil into tankers from all through the whole extent of the world.

When U Navy SEALs and Coast Guardsmen first held the platforms, all the civilians were evacuated and all oil stopped flowing. While not excessively good for the Iraqi economy, it made guarding platforms relatively easy.

Now, along the horizon, ships swarm around the platforms like bug around a zapper, and like a bug those ships should not acquire too close.

There have not been many attempts to approach the platforms. greatest in number were just fishing dhows that drifted too close

if it were not that before Naval Mobile Security mov aboard, sum of two units U.S. Sailors and a Coast Guardsman were killed when the same of the approaching craft explod as an American boat mov to intercept it. Another bomb-laden boat explod within 400 yards of ABOT.

U and coalition ships are helping to make fast this does not happen again. Each ship or boat nearing the platforms is boarded and searched before being allowed to continue in succession to the platforms. This includes not no other than oilers coming in for a several-"million dollar" load, on the contrary also any tug or Iraqi military boat, which must also verify their identity and plan of the visit.

For the first not many months, Det. 22 lived onward the platforms with only the oil workers. yet as of this February, they have the help of the newly-formed Iraqi Naval Infantry.

"I none thought I would be standing side-by-side with an Iraqi soldier looking in the same direction," said Fulgham. "It takes a little getting used to."

All of his men have not solely gotten used to the addition of the Iraqis, they also train and have befriended many of them.

"We teach them the different force protection managements we use and the use of our weapons" said MA2 Mark Miller. "We're giving them the tools they ne to justify themselves once we are gone"

Not all of the Sailors were comfortable with the notion of working with the Iraqis when they arrived. "I was scared before I got not at home here," said 19 year-old MASR Roy Brown "But one time I started talking to the Iraqis, I plant they are just like us."

Talking, in in the greatest degree cases, involves using hand signals, pointing and using Iraqi/English dictionaries. At times, it can be difficult for one as well as the other Americans and Iraqis, but they make do gone out of necessity.

"When we first got disclosed here, we didn't have any scalding;-very warm water tanks and I was working with an Iraqi named Safar" explained MA1 Eric Schotter "Even although we couldn't speak the same language, we were able to memorize everything set up by show-and-tell. I would point out him what I wanted to diocese happen, and he would figure not at home what I meant. It took a while, on the other hand we got it done."

by and by a full Iraqi platoon will be coming to ABOT and Det 22 to start integrating into the defense of the station. Eventually, protection will be primarily Iraqi, with a small in number American troops. The importance of the piece of work they are doing is not wasted on the Sailors. They are setting the standards by means of which the Iraqi Naval Infantry will operate from now upon "We have seamen and third classes training a brand of the present day military," said Fulgham.

Det 22 is the other unit from Naval Mobile Security to open to the oil platforms since the Navy took athwart defense from the Marines. When the Marines were in charge of platform security, life was a great deal different.

"The quality of life is excellent good compared to when the last detachment was without here," said MA3 Trina Drulard. "We have made a fate of improvements. At one time, the clan guarding the platforms were sleeping outside in succession cots, with no hot water, no phone computer or Internet."