Colorado Guardsmen Play an Integral Role in Al Anbar Province

Photo By Liesl Marelli | Spc. Casey Ferguson of Northglenn, Colo., communicates with other personnel in his...... read more read more

Photo By Liesl Marelli | Spc. Casey Ferguson of Northglenn, Colo., communicates with other personnel in his vehicle while on a mission in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, Aug. 9. Ferguson, of Battery B, 3rd Battalion, 157th Field Artillery, Colorado Army National Guard, 115th Fires Brigade, serves as the gunner on a mine resistant ambush protected vehicle. He vigilantly scans his sector for any suspicious activities to ensure the safety of his vehicle, as well as other vehicles in the convoy.  see less | View Image Page

RAMADI, IRAQ

08.18.2009

Story by Staff Sgt. Liesl Marelli 

3rd Battalion, 157th Field Artillery

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AR RAMADI, Iraq — Colorado Army National Guard's 3rd Battalion, 157th Field Artillery, 115th Fires Brigade, arrived in Iraq and hit the ground running.

The Soldiers are performing a slew of missions in Ar Ramadi ranging from quick reaction force to personnel security detail to operating towers and gates at Camp Ramadi. Each of the batteries assigned to 3-157 FA holds different areas of responsibility.

Battery B, 3-157 FA, conducts personal security detail missions for the Camp Ramadi-based Anbar Provincial Reconstruction Team.

"Without the presence of a security detachment, the Provincial Reconstruction Team would not be able to perform its mission safely," explains Air Force Tech. Sgt. Leonard Norris, an operations non-commissioned officer with the PRT.

Battery B is charged with maintaining tight security for members of the PRT, as well as those with whom they meet. The protection provided to the PRT by Battery B is essential to the success of their missions.

"If my [Soldiers] can provide that sense of comfort for [the PRT] then the team can concentrate more on their job at hand and not worry about the security piece," said 1st Sgt. Rodolfo Reyes, Battery B first sergeant.

Aug. 9 was the battery's first mission to the province's Fuel Distribution Center.

"We were at the Ramadi Fuel Distribution Center to meet with the Director General of Oil Distribution Abdul Ghani, about the current problems with fuel and oil distribution facing Al Anbar and to assess the progress of the FDC," said Lance Cpl. Chase Niblett, of the Multi-National Force - West Civil Military Operations section.

The Anbar Provincial Reconstruction Team consists of subject matter experts in an array of fields such as governance, economics, infrastructure, rule of law, public diplomacy and public affairs, project management and operations. Anbar PRT encompasses specialists from the departments of State, Defense and Justice and U.S. Agency for International Development. Both uniformed service members and civilians serve on the PRT.

While members of the Anbar PRT met with Ghani, the security detail maintained their highest level of vigilance to ensure the safety of those who they were protecting.

"Staying vigilant is paramount to the safety of any and all individuals [we protect] to include civilians," said Spc. John Perea of the PSD. "[It] can and will help prevent or defuse a situation before it gets out of hand. If something does happen and it wasn't preventable, it's better to be ready to react than be caught off guard."

At the culmination of the meeting, Ghani invited the Soldiers to rotate in and enjoy some local Iraqi food.

"[The food] was amazing," said Sgt. Jeff Daniels, a Soldier assigned to the PSD. "It's probably one of the best dishes I've eaten in a long time."

"I think [the Iraqis] look at sharing a meal as 'sealing the deal' so to speak," said Niblett. "When we eat out in town, the Soldiers [on the PSD] normally get some Iraqi food, but I've never seen an Iraqi as motivated about getting the PSD team fed as I saw here."

This mission, supported by Battery B, gave the Ramadi-based PRT an opportunity to continue building and strengthening their relationship with the local government, business leaders and elected officials.

According to the Anbar PRT, oil has not only changed the immediate lives of the people of Anbar; its potential will have huge impacts in the future. The PRT is in place to assist and assess the progress of the oil distribution, among their many tasks.

"I'm happy knowing something is getting done for the Iraqis," said Daniels. "We are here to help."