COSTA MESA, Calif. -- Following the number of buildings catching fire in Iraq due to old or faulty wiring, the Marine Corps has recognized the need to rewire many of the structures completely.
Camp Pendleton Marines are well under-way to responding to the enormous task of rewiring Iraq by enrolling electrical equipment repair specialists in civilian education courses at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa.
On Aug. 19, 19 Marines from several of Camp Pendleton’s communications companies graduated a grueling four-week course at the college, in which they learned all aspects of completely wiring a structure.
The goal is to make the buildings safe and keep them from overloading electrically, said David R. Rodriguez, 46, associate professor of construction technology at Orange Coast College.
There is also the need to draw away from relying on generators as a primary source for electricity, said Gunnery Sgt. Richard A. Norville, utilities chief, Communications Company, Headquarters Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force.
“With this training the Marines can go up to any structure in Iraq and rewire it so that they don’t have to rely on generators for power,” Norville added.
This is the second group of Marines to graduate the course, which is specially tailored for the Marines because it crams a large amount of material in a shorter period of time from the normal civilian course.
“The Marines get the same training that I provide in the 16-week course,” Rodriguez assured.
Rodriguez, who has 22 years of experience in the electrical field and has served for eight years as an educator, is dedicated to training the Marines as he maintains contact with those Marines. He’s trained Marines who deployed to Iraq and provides feedback on any electrical troubleshooting problems they have.
Rodriguez never served in the Armed Forces, but is serving his country in another way by assisting Marines deployed to Iraq via telephone, as was the case recently.
“The Marine had a problem identifying several items and after discussing the problem I provided a resolution and that Marine was able to move on with his work,” said Rodriguez. “It’s important for them to know that I’m here to answer their questions whenever they need me, even if they’re in Iraq.”
Several of the Marines are Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans and have felt the demand for their skills and the immediacy to resolve the electrical problem in Iraq.
“I was pretty busy in Iraq because the wiring that was already in the buildings was put there hastily and in poor condition,” said Cpl. Justin W. Davis, 21, a refrigerator mechanic with Communications Company, Headquarters Bn., 1st Marine Division. “The priority then was working on air conditioning units.”
Before being handed an official completion certificate, which the Marines will be able to use beyond their military careers, they were required to complete the final class project.
This entailed taking an empty building and completely wiring it from start to finish in a mere number of hours.
The Marines will receive five units of college credit for this course.