1-33d Cavalry Squadron

Courtesy Photo | CAMP OLSON, Iraq (Nov. 9, 2005) - Sgt. Sergio Huerta, a sniper team leader with Troop C, 1-33 Cavalry, works out during his down time in northern Iraq.  

SAMARRA, IRAQ

11.18.2005

Courtesy Story

133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

By Spc. Lee Elder
133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

CAMP OLSON, SAMARRA, Iraq (Nov. 10, 2005) " It's been a year full of transitions for Soldiers with C Troop, 1-33d Cavalry Squadron.

The former members of Company C, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, made the switch from a light, airborne company into its new role as the dismounted reconnaissance troop for the 3rd Brigade Combat Team after it returned from the 101st Airborne Division's first tour of Iraq in 2003. The transition was complete just in time for the unit to begin training for its deployment here.

His Soldiers have put their new skills to good use in Iraq, said the unit's commander, Capt. Sean McGee.

"It gives us a little edge," McGee said. "Having both the light infantry and reconnaissance training gives us an extra tool in the kit bag."

The new skills learned in the transition have come in handy when the unit began its current mission last month patrolling in and around Samarra, a city of more than 100,000 that lies on the banks of the Tigris River in northern Iraq. Unit Soldiers conduct both foot and vehicle patrols of the area daily in what has proven to be one of the most active sectors in this region.

In its five weeks here, the unit has averaged at least enemy contact every day, McGee said. That contact has come in the form of small arms fire or rocket and mortar attacks.
The previous day, an insurgent mortar round scored a direct hit on the company's compound leaving a two-foot hold in its roof. There were no injuries.

In its new role, the company is given the task of providing reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition for the 187th Infantry Regiment " known as 'the Rakkasans." This places them 50 to 100 kilometers in front of the division forces on the conventional battlefield.

Iraq is hardly a conventional battlefield. Thus, the unit has now somewhat reverted to a conventional light infantry role of urban fighting, foot and vehicle patrols.

One of the unit's mainstays is Sgt. 1st Class Mario Terenas. He has served with the unit for three years and was there when it participated in the first Operation Iraqi Freedom rotation in 2003 and took part in its transition.

Terenas said the transition brought many new soldiers and different military skills into what had been a unit solely made up of infantry soldiers.

"It took us a little bit of time to get used to it," Terenas said. "There were different (military occupational skills) and shifting of our job to a reconnaissance force from being a strike force."

Spc. Rocky O'Neill III is a two-year unit veteran who also went through the transition and serves as a Squad Automatic Weapon gunner in the company's 3rd Platoon.
"We can pretty much go anywhere and do anything now," O'Neill said. "We can handle all kinds of weapons and do what needs to be done."

The unit was one of the first 101st elements to cross over into Iraq on its current deployment, McGee said.

Unit members conduct daily foot and vehicle patrols. Their missions average 24-30 hours at a time and they operate during both daytime and night time.

The threat of constant contact by insurgents and local tribe factions force the unit members to keep sharp.

"It's pretty crazy sometimes," said Spc. Derek Karl, a SAW gunner with 3rd Platoon. "It's always a reality check."

Dealing with the prospect of enemy fire is when the training kicks in, Karl said.

"Whenever we first took small arms fire, we didn't freak out," he said. "We got organized and then took off after them."

Karl has never laid eyes on those firing at him and his fellow Soldiers.

"We never see who is shooting at us," Karl said. "They take a couple of shots, and then they are gone."

Besides their conventional mission, the unit is also assisting other U.S. and Coalition forces in the area working with local police to make the area able to defend itself from insurgent forces and tribal warlords.

A unit in transition is helping Iraqis make a transition of their own.

"We're working to turn control of the city back to the Iraqis," McGee said. "We know this is our ticket out.

"I don't want to have to have to be here for OIF 14 or 15."

• Date Taken: 11.18.2005
• Date Posted: 11.18.2005 17:20
• Story ID: 3798
• Location: SAMARRA, IQ