Power up Baghdad

Bright spark – Cfn Mason Bennett has the power. Photo by Sgt William Guthrie, 1JPAU(P)

From Capt Andrew Bird in Baghdad

With the Australian National HQ MEAO recently relocating to a bombed-out Presidential Palace in Baghdad, the unenviable task of making sure they had power, had fallen to an electrical technician from 10FSB.

For Cfn Mason Bennett, it was a job of monumental proportion.
With the rehabilitation phase in Iraq now well underway, Cfn Bennett has his work cut out for him.

He is well in demand being the only Australian elec tech in Baghdad.

Cfn Bennett’s tasking is wide and varied, from installing lighting, fans and fridges, to fixing a swimming pool to aid morale and making sure general power supply is available to run the ANHQ.

One of the hardships he has faced is restoring power to bombed buildings, which he describes as dangerous work.

He says working with the local Iraqi contractors has also been a challenge because of language.

The operational experience Cfn Bennett has gained has been a highlight of his career, and sharing his knowledge with other coalition members has also been an invaluable experience.

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