February was balanced between missions at the company and task force level, as well as significant emphasis on preparations for the coming of the Iraqi Intervention Force (IIF, aka the new Iraqi Army) to Camp Habbaniyah. Sapper raids were conducted with great success during OPERATIONs MEET THE PARENTS and GHOSTBUSTERS. The company detained eight targeted individuals and ten more of their close associates tied to IED emplacement and insurgent activity in the greater Khalidyah area. The company also cruised the waters of the Euphrates River once again with the Marine small craft company during OPERATION APOCALYPSE NOW. We chose more agreeable temperatures to conduct operations this time around after the frigid 20-degree ride back in December. However, the boats are just like trucks in that they take you where you need to go and then, unceremoniously, leave you to fend for yourself. From that point, we were in "Lightfighter" mode and the men endured a long, hot, arduous mission of sweeping for caches and searching homes. The sight of the boats moving to shore to pick us up at the end of the festivities was the highlight of many Sappers' day! Although not as exciting as our missions, a large focus for the company during this month was securing the boundary that now splits Camp Habbaniyah. A Hesco bastion wall was constructed in November-December that split one third of the camp to the east for use by the Iraqi Army. In the spirit of "Good fences make good neighbors", our Sappers spent many long hours stringing wire, building/emplacing guard towers, cutting down and blowing up trees, and clearing large areas of trees and undergrowth on both sides of the wall to increase observation and make the perimeter as secure as possible. In a more "personal" touch to prepare the camp for our new brothers in arms, we also painted and set up a nice new flagpole in front of their headquarters to hoist the Iraqi flag upon their arrival. All preparations were set as the 9th Battalion of the "new" Iraqi Army arrived on the last day of the month to occupy their quarters on the "East Camp". We welcome them and are excited to integrate their units with ours for future operations.