General Todd T. Semonite, chief of engineers and commanding general of the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), 3 and 4 April, visited the Mosul Dam escorted by Dimonios of the 151st "Sassari" infantry regiment.
During the visit the senior officer had the opportunity to meet the Iraqi top management of the Ministry of Water Resources, the Italian top management of the Trevi company and the military and civil staff of USACE involved in the Mosul Dam Project. The high officer also wanted to meet the men and women of the Italian task force army Praesidium committed to ensuring the safety of the dam, which is confirmed as a site of strategic interest for the Coalition and the Iraqi government for the development and stabilization of the area.
After a briefing on the general situation - illustrated by Colonel Maurizio Settesoldi, commander of the task force Praesidium, at the Tactical Operation Center (TOC) - General Semonite had the opportunity to meet personally Dimonios of the 151 ° infantry regiment "Sassari" employed at checkpoint and observation posts in defense of the dam and, subsequently, had the opportunity to attend a joint exercise between Italian soldiers and the Counter Terrorism Service (CTS), which concluded a training phase carried out in favor of the CTS in the context of "urban fight, breaching and first aid".
These training activities and exercises are carried out periodically in order to increase the level of interoperability between the Italian forces and the Iraqi forces involved in the integrated defense system set up to guard the Mosul dam.
General Simonite expressed words of profound appreciation for the work of the Italian Army soldiers and for the level of professionalism shown, thanking for what the Italians do on a daily basis both for security and for the stability of the area.
The visit ended with the signing of the roll of honor by the commander of the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).
General Semonite, as USACE commander, is responsible for 32.000 civil servants and 700 military operatives - in the field of project menagement and provide engineering consultancy in the field of construction - in more than 110 countries worldwide.
The task force Praesidium, based on 151 ° infantry regiment "Sassari" of Cagliari, is deployed at the site of the Dam of Mosul with the task of ensuring a safety framework for the structure of the dam where they also work the company TREVI engaged in the rehabilitation works.
