Story and photos by Sgt. Daniel W. Bailey
22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
FORWARD OPERATING BASE O'RYAN, BALAD, Iraq -- Convoys roll through Iraq daily never knowing what surprise might lie ahead or be around the next corner.
For the Task Force Liberty Soldiers of Troop K, Task Force 1-128, creating a safe passage along the main supply routes and alternate supply routes while training soldiers of the Iraqi army in and around Balad, Iraq, is an everyday mission.
"We're part of the battalion's main effort doing MSR and ASR clearance of Tampa and Milton," said Staff Sgt. Forrest Bradford, 1st squad leader, 2nd Platoon, Troop K, 3rd Battalion, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment. "We go up and down the MSR looking for anything out of the ordinary, making sure the route is clear as possible in this area."
Troop K is part of 3rd Battalion, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, from the Tennessee Army National Guard, but is attached to 1st Battalion, 128th Infantry Regiment, from the Wisconsin Army National Guard, during Operation Iraqi Freedom III.
The Soldiers know that maintaining a safe roadway is a long and tedious process, one that requires dedication and many man-hours.
"We run no less than five missions a day at a minimum of four hours each," said Capt. Paul W. Shannon, commander, Troop K. "We are on the road 16 to 22 hours a day, so there are usually only two hours a day we don't have someone outside the wire patrolling the MSRs and ASRs."
Since the end of December, Troop K alone has logged 288,007 miles during 814 combat patrols, conducted 40 raids and had no serious vehicular accidents as of April 30th, added Shannon, a Clarksville Tenn. native.
In addition to patrolling the supply routes in the area Troop K, is also training soldiers from the 4h Battalion, 1st Brigade, 4th Division, of the Iraqi army and providing security for the southern border of Logistical Support Area Anaconda.
"We really have three missions," said Shannon. "Our primary mission is route clearance and security of MSRs and ASRs, our second mission is to protect the southern boundaries of LSA Anaconda from mortar attacks, rocket attacks and provide general security, and our third is to train the Iraqi army and Iraqi Security Forces so that they can take over and we can go home."
K Troop has actually been conducting joint patrols with Iraqi army soldiers since December, but just started working with the 4th Battalion within the last month.
"About 90 percent of the patrols we've conducted have been joint patrols where we take out an Iraqi army team," said Staff Sgt. Brian M. Van Note, 3rd Squad Leader, 2nd Platoon, Troop K. "We are seeing with the new unit the level of discipline is better. We've had some really outstanding squads that have run with us."
The Iraqi soldiers have been learning how to conduct mounted and foot patrols as well as how to set up traffic control points, where they search vehicles and passengers and talk to locals to gather information.
"They are very limited due to resources right now, communication equipment and vehicles, things you really need to have to conduct patrols correctly," said Shannon. "So what we have done is integrated the vehicles they do have, so my patrols will take one to two vehicles of five to 10 soldiers, incorporating them in the patrol."
Even though they lack some resources, the Iraqi soldiers are beginning to conduct some aspects of the patrols on their own.
"We're trying to get hands off during the TCPs. Eventually we'll be there to just provide them security while they conduct the TCPs," said Van Note. "They also help out getting the message across to locals as they have an easier time communicating due to a lack of translators."
Soon after they receive the necessary equipment the Iraqi soldiers will begin to take over patrols on their own for K Troop, providing a secure area for the Iraqi people.
"When they take over, if they have the presence in the area like we've had, there will be no problems," said Bradford.
| Date Taken: | 07.12.2005 |
| Date Posted: | 07.12.2005 13:24 |
| Story ID: | 2382 |
| Location: | BALAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 58 |
| Downloads: | 6 |
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