International Making it possible

In early 2004, the Joint Area Support Group granted Arkel a large tract of land (approximately 25 acres) within Saddam Hussein’s former “Believer’s Palace” (a.k.a. “2000 Palace”) compound in the heart of Baghdad’s “Green Zone” for Arkel’s use to provide accommodations and subsequent camps for various multinationals doing prime-contract work in-country. This area was designated as “FOB Blackhawk” by the U.S. military.

Arkel performed a wide variety of services on all camps ranging from design/construction to ongoing life support and O&M. Housing and office facilities within the camps were from fairly simple living quarters to spacious “VIP” accommodations with verandas and outdoor space.

Lucent Technologies was one of the first companies for whom Arkel designed, built, operated, and maintained camp accommodations within FOB Blackhawk in September, 2004. The Lucent Camp housed more than 75 people for whom Arkel provided all life support services.

Under the same contract number, Arkel was commissioned to perform work for Lucent under contract by USACE/Iraqi Ministry of Interior for their Mobile Switching Office-Government Dispatch Centers (MSO-GDC), First Responders Network (the Iraqi “911”.) Sites for this subsequent work included Tikrit, Mosul, Hilla, Al-Kut, Diwaniyah, Samawah, Basrah and Kirkuk.