Courtesy Photo | Pedestrians stroll through the checkpoint early in the morning, Oct. 27, 2008....... read more read more
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By 1st Lt. Martin Suarez
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armor Division, restructured a critical checkpoint and trained Iraqi army soldiers to conduct more thorough searches of personnel and vehicles in Sadr City District of Baghdad.
Task Force 1-6 Inf., currently attached to 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, controls south Sadr City and through the month of October assisted the IA remodel of the circle 55 checkpoint increasing security and the IA's capabilities in the sector.
In April and May, MND-B Soldiers emplaced a three kilometer wall along the Jamilla/Al Quds road limiting special groups criminal access to the economic infrastructure of Jamilla. Once fighting subsided, the Iraqi army created the checkpoint to provide the Iraqi people freedom of movement through Baghdad and the Jamilla Market, the largest market in northern Baghdad and a major source of goods and services to Iraqis on both sides of the wall.
For many months, there were only nine to twelve IA working at the checkpoint.
"Resupply was difficult for these guys since they lacked the bare essentials such as food and water," said Sgt. 1st Class Roger Joyce, Soldier from TF 1-6 and native of Orlando, Fla., as he reflected to the old checkpoint.
Soldiers from TF 1-6 reconfigured the checkpoint using creative thinking and the help of a crane. The barriers were moved in order to create four lanes on the checkpoint. Two lanes were created for north and south bound traffic with one lane for vehicle searches. The other lane was created for pedestrians and motorists to walk and drive.
The TF 1-6 Soldiers dedicated themselves and their knowledge to teach the Iraqi army soldiers proper search techniques.
"Sometimes we spent over an hour of each patrol at this checkpoint to teach the Iraqis that proper and routine searches can lead to finding key intelligence and hidden weapons," said Spc. Samuel Whitman, a Soldier from TF 1-6 and native of Charlotte, North Carolina.
As the Iraqi army soldiers improved their searches, so did their numbers. The IA as well as the Iraqi police began working together to keep enemy personnel out of the operational environment. Soldiers of the checkpoint also began to receive the adequate food, water and living areas to properly sustain them as they manned the checkpoint.
Joyce said a defining aspect of the joint effort on the checkpoint is the overwhelming initiative the IA show to improve their performance and appearance while protecting the area from another resurgence of violence.
| Date Taken: | 11.07.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 11.07.2008 10:16 |
| Story ID: | 26048 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 465 |
| Downloads: | 269 |
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