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By Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Doheny
1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division
TIKRIT, Iraq - On a hazy morning, April 12, a group of Army Reserve Soldiers from the 56th Military Police Company from Mesa, Ariz., did something they never thought they would get the chance to do, conduct a Screaming Eagle Air Assault.
Military policemen in Iraq routinely conduct Police Transition Team duties in assisting Iraqis with the policing of their communities, but rarely, if ever, get the opportunity to conduct full-scale air assaults.
The 56th, attached to the 1st Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, have spent the last 11 months in Tikrit patrolling streets, training policemen and conducting combat operations.
On their 11th month, they were given the opportunity of a lifetime; conduct a joint air assault with the Screaming Eagles of the 101st Airborne Division.
Along with their Iraqi police counterparts, they crammed into UH-60 Black Hawk and CH-47 Chinook helicopters, preparing to hunt down al-Qaida in the desolate western desert of the Salah ad Din province.
As the blades on the helicopters began to turn, the Soldiers signaled to the crew chiefs that they were primed for take off.
What was waiting for them in the desert was something their commander, Maj. Richard VanBuskirk, from Clarkston, Mich., described as "controlled chaos".
As they completed their insertion and jumped from their helicopters, they realized why 101st Soldiers are feared by the enemy.
The surprising arrival of coalition and Iraqi forces by helicopter left targeted AQI members with no choice but to "squirt" from the objective. The result of this enemy fleeing to their trucks was an ensuing fire-fight.
"Supporting attack helicopters informed us that a group of men were moving to trucks located near a house," said VanBuskirk. "The men in these trucks were armed with machine guns and assault rifles. They fired on us multiple times as they tried to flee our location, but we eliminated the enemy threat."
After clearing numerous buildings, houses and exploiting numerous items linked to AQI, the mission was complete and they once again loaded on helicopters and returned to base.
According to Staff Sgt. David Heath, from Phoenix, Ariz., the purpose of this IP intelligence-driven mission was to take the fight to the insurgents, denying them safe haven and refuge.
"Denying an insurgency the safety and security to plan and execute their missions is a major component to the overall security mission in Iraq. It's not just an important mission, it's THE mission," said Heath.
Heath admits that the Soldiers in his unit could not have completed a mission with as many moving parts and pieces as there were, without the competency of the Iraqi S.W.A.T. He feels they deserve as much credit for the overall success of the mission, which resulted in the killing of five AQI and the detaining of three.
Ever since the Spartans of the 1st STB assumed responsibility of the greater-Tikrit area in October 2007, they recognized the proficiency of the MPs. This led to the selection of the unit to conduct an operation of this size, which is usually set aside for the battalion's attached infantry Soldiers.
The 1st STB has a unique task organization in Iraq. They are the only Special Troops Battalion to have responsibility for a large amount of battle space. Certain units under its command, such as the 56th, are tasked to conduct joint Iraqi police, full-spectrum combat and counter-insurgency operations in their respective areas of responsibility.
"What is unique about the 56th MPs is that the PTT Company has been given more responsibility than a normal PTT company due to our task organization and limited combat forces here in the Tikrit area" said Timothy Povich, 1st STB Executive Officer. "They have operated the same way as any other maneuver unit while also accomplishing their PTT mission ever since we have been in Iraq. They own their own battle space in Tikrit, and conduct engagements with local leaders, conduct training and patrol the streets with Iraqi police."
Povich said the 56th was selected by his battalion commander, Lt. Col. Rick Ryne, for this air assault because they exceeded all expectations throughout their unique mission in Iraq.
"The 56th MP Company has done an incredible amount of work for us, this was a great opportunity for them to conduct an air assault with their IP, to kind of end their deployment with a successful mission," said Povich. "The battalion commander picked them because they aren't your normal MP Company."
According to VanBuskirk, it has been an honor to serve under Task Force Spartan. He said, "Being under the command of the 1st STB over the last few months has been the most rewarding period in my 20 year career."
VanBuskirk stated that his company's final mission in Iraq was as unique as the duties they have conducted for the active duty Army battalion they supported for the last seven months.
"If you look back throughout military history, it will be very difficult if not impossible to find a United States Army Reserve Military Police Combat Support Company to be chosen to lead a joint coalition/Iraqi police air assault mission from start to finish," said VanBuskirk. "This also shows how joint active duty Army and Army Reserve relationships have matured over the years, and the confidence our battalion and brigade has in our company."
| Date Taken: | 04.18.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 04.18.2008 11:09 |
| Story ID: | 18558 |
| Location: | TIKRIT, IQ |
| Web Views: | 944 |
| Downloads: | 468 |
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