Photo By Master Sgt. Opal Vaughn | Spc. Forrest Hull and his military working dog, Flopper, both with Headquarters...... read more read more
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By Spc. Opal Vaughn
14th Public Affairs Detachment
Some people might have noticed there's a new unit in town. But that makes no difference at all.
Even though 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division has only been in country for a short while, the mission still remains the same; maintain security while transitioning the return of Iraq to its people.
Alpha Troop, 5th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st SBCT, 25th Inf. Div. has taken the lead on maintaining security for Forward Operating Base Caldwell located in Diyala, Iraq, by making it their mission, one day at a time.
Forward Operating Base Caldwell, formally inhabited by 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment and recently turned over to 5-1 Cav., has already begun creating sand storms throughout Diyala and Balad Ruz by ensuring the local Iraqi police, Iraqi army, Sons of Iraq and emergency relief forces continue to stay on task for the betterment of Iraq.
Professional, thorough and a tight-knit group of Soldiers, Alpha Troop lives up to every word they embody.
"I always say three things to my guys before every mission; Do the right thing, do what your trained to do and take care of your buddy," said Des Moines, Iowa native, 1st Lt. Marcus Green, 2nd Platoon, platoon leader, Alpha Troop, 5-1 Cav.
Initially the mission was to clear Balad Ruz of any possible weapons caches in the area. But with quick reaction, Green, working with a combined 40-plus years of service on his team, ventured upon a new mission of assuring the security of local IP checkpoints in the area, Nov. 19.
"We want to ensure the local IP's are doing their jobs correctly and safely," Green stated. "It gives them a since of confidence to know that eventually we can turn the country over to them all together. A lot times we go to the check points and spot check to ensure the IP's are trained properly and conducting all of the necessary steps to not only make themselves safe, but their areas safe as well."
"By going to the check points, it allows us to fine tune their training as needed if we see something done incorrectly or an unsafe act," Green stated.
For added safety, Spc. Forrest Hull and his military working dog, Flopper, both with Headquarters Headquarters Troop, Canine, 1st SBCT, 25th Inf. Div., assisted Alpha Troop in securing checkpoints in Balad Ruz and Diyala.
"My job is to clear the surrounding areas of checkpoints in the area as well as search vehicles randomly selected for inspection, for any possible explosive devices," said Hull. "Flopper searches by checking the interior and exterior of the vehicles we inspect. If he sits then it means there are explosives or a weapon of some sort aboard in the vehicle. We have several military working dogs on hand and each one of them is amazingly accurate."
Making sure the dogs are conditioned is essential to keeping the dogs on their toes, according to Hull. "Every once and a while we give the dogs a treat but we keep them on a strict diet because they are military working dogs," Hull stated.
"The dogs hold different job responsibilities just like we do," Hull continued, "for instance, we have combat trackers, dual purpose and single purpose dogs. A combat tracking dog tracks humans, a dual purpose dog attacks and detects and a single purpose dog just tracks."
According to Hull, the use of canines brings a whole new aspect to the fight, in securing Iraq.
"Flopper's only been working with me for about six months now," said Hull, "but he and I have had some big finds."
Alpha Troop ensures the IP's are doing their job correctly and safely, but ensuring Alpha Troop does their job correctly and safely is Alpha Troop scout platoon sergeant, Sgt. 1st Class Noah Pugh.
"Our mission was to clear the palm groves with the ERF but it was deterred because they could not support us on this mission," said Pugh. "Instead, we changed our route and are now conducting random traffic control point security checks."
"While Alpha Troop checks the traffic control points," Pugh continued, "I ensure quality control of my Soldiers so that the enemy cannot get at us while we assist the IP's. I've been in long enough to have learned my lesson a time or two. So I just want to ensure that my guys are being safe while they secure these checkpoints," Hull said.
| Date Taken: | 12.12.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 12.12.2008 09:31 |
| Story ID: | 27577 |
| Location: |
| Web Views: | 804 |
| Downloads: | 652 |
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