Photo By Staff Sgt. James E. Brown | Quick reaction force Pvt. 1st Class Robert Glenn, a native of Riverview, Mich., and a...... read more read more
By Staff Sgt. James E. Brown Jr.
1st Sustainment Brigade
CAMP TAJI, Iraq – One by one, a half-dozen, mine resistant ambush protected vehicles entered a gravel parking lot outside the 1038th Horizontal Construction Company motor pool. The Soldiers jumped out and went to work filling coolers with fresh bags of ice, water and Gatorade to ensure there was plenty of fluid to drink throughout the day.
The Soldiers of the Arkansas based 1038th HCC fall under the 1st Squadron, 152nd Cavalry Regiment, an Indiana National Guard unit, attached to the 1st Sustainment Brigade, out of Fort Riley, Kansas. What makes this unit so unique is their diverse mixture of military occupational skills. They have Soldiers who are combat arms, combat engineers, supply specialists, and human resources, to name a few.
Watching these Soldiers operate together, one can clearly see that they know their jobs well and take it very seriously. They have banded together, brothers in arms, to accomplish their mission and ensure that the security of the base goes uncompromised and remains safe.
Today's mission is to counter improvised rocket assisted munitions – no easy task. Before they depart, each vehicle commander ensures his Soldiers conduct pre-combat checks and pre-combat inspections, to ensure all equipment is present and working properly. The mission is briefed, contingency plans are reinforced, and a prayer is spoken by the Chaplain. This was their time to collect their thoughts and gather the inner strength, to accomplish their assigned mission - to earn their bread and butter.
"Our job is to become a known deterrent for any insurgents who plan to attempt an improvised rocket assisted munitions attack on Camp Taji Iraq," stated Staff Sgt. Terry Burdin, a native of Rector, Ark. "We also enforce the no parking policy along the borders of Camp Taji, and investigate any suspicious person or vehicle within our area of responsibility."
The group did encounter a stranded driver a few hours into their patrol. One of the Soldiers spotted a disabled van pulled off to the side of the road. They approached the driver and asked him about his situation and to further inquire if he'd seen anything suspicious or any abnormal activity within the area.
"I try to keep in mind every person or vehicle we deal with are friendly. We treat every person as we would want to be treated given the same circumstances. We remain professional, polite, but prepared to use force if necessary," said Burdin. "I believe strongly in ... making good, lasting impressions with the local populace."
The sun crossed the sky, the hours passed and the team completed their mission successfully.
| Date Taken: | 09.18.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 09.18.2008 07:10 |
| Story ID: | 23795 |
| Location: | TAJI, IQ |
| Web Views: | 309 |
| Downloads: | 268 |
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