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DIYALA, Iraq — Task Force 296 conducts a vast array of missions across Iraq's Diyala province to keep its parent unit, the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, in operational readiness.
The Battalion completes missions covering every aspect of operations, from providing combat repair teams to each battalion under the Brigade to conduct the daily combat logistics patrols; moving troops and vital supplies throughout the province.
One of the least known tasks, Soldiers of the 296th Brigade Support Battalion perform, is providing protection to the Soldiers of Border Transition Team 4130 and the civilian contractors living and working at Forward Operating Base Edge. The FOB is located on the grounds of the Muntheria Port of Entry, a landlocked border crossing between Iraq and neighboring Iran in north east Diyala province.
"Most of the Soldiers provided by the 3rd Stryker Brigade are here for force protection, we also have one dining facility manager as well," said Lt. Col. David Sigmund, commander of Border Transition Team 4130 and FOB Edge.
The Soldiers of the guard force are critical to supporting the mission of the Border Transition Team said Sigmund.
"It is absolutely essential to have the guard force Soldiers here. We as a team, the 11 of us, could not possibly provide all the force protection, secure the FOB or complete our advise and assist mission," said Sigmund.
The guard force provides security for the BTT and civilian contractors in various ways. One way the Soldiers work to minimize risk to personnel at the Port of Entry is by operating the PEIR system, a scanner which scans the eye of persons passing through the port and compares the image to those stored in a database before the person can pass and be screened by U.S. civilian contractors.
If a person of interest passes through the port Soldiers will know immediately, and will pass control of the person to their Iraqi counterparts. If the person scanned has no criminal record or outstanding warrants they are free to pass and move on to another check point manned by the civilian contractors.
"It's amazing to see how many people pass through the port. Iraqis, Iranians, Pakistanis and many others," said Pfc. Victor Lucero, a member of Task Force 296's 334th Signal Company. "It's great, keeping people safe, whether they're U.S., Iraqi or Iranian. Doing this job here really makes me feel like I'm doing good."
Lucero a member of the guard force, is one of the Soldiers assigned to FOB Edge and operates the PEIRs system.
Working with the PIERs operator is two non-commissioned officers who assist in the flow of foot traffic in the large building where the processing takes place. Also in the processing building are other guard force Soldiers who guard contractors working the outbound lanes processing persons passing from Iraq into Iran.
"Working here with the guard force gives Soldiers an experience most units don't see," said Staff Sgt. Patrick Foard, the non-commissioned officer in charge of the guard force also known as sergeant of the guard. "It took while to get used to the mission, things really picked up once we got out here and everyone meshed. We are able to incorporate aspects of everyone's occupational specialty in what we do everyday."
In addition to protecting the military and civilian personnel at the processing building the guard force operates the entry control point to FOB Edge and provides night time guards around the FOB.
| Date Taken: | 12.16.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 12.27.2009 03:02 |
| Story ID: | 43175 |
| Location: | DIYALA PROVINCE, IQ |
| Web Views: | 383 |
| Downloads: | 341 |
This work, Task Force 296 Providing Security at Iraq's Border, by SSG Anthony Jones, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
