Buffaloes From the Sky: 1-17 Inf. Reg. soldiers conducts air assault mission in to Mansurabad

Courtesy Photo | Four Black Hawk helicopters prepare to land and transport Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment to Mansurabad, a small village north of the Argandabh River Valley. The company's mission was to search suspected compounds for improvised explosive devices and talk to the local people about any problems they could help with.  

FRONTENAC, AFGHANISTAN

04.26.2010

Courtesy Story

5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division

By Spc. David Hauk

FRONTENAC, Afghanistan – The Black Hawk lifts off the ground swirling debris across the bodies of the Soldiers lying around it. The Soldiers peer through the cloud of dust to spot any enemy in the area as they pull security of the area. Once the helicopter is back in the sky, the troops get up and make a run for the top of the hill nearby.

After reaching the top of the hill, the Soldiers set up security and radio to their superiors that they have landed. Already covered in dirt and looking like they have spent a week without bathing, the troops have just begun.

This marked 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment's first company size air assault mission.

"We have done air assaults before but nothing on this scale," said Lt. Col. Jonathan Neumann, Battalion Commander for 1-17. "This mission took a lot of coordination and I'm happy with the way my Soldiers handled it."

The primary purpose of the mission was to get troops inside Mansurabad, a small secluded village with little conventional access. The few roads that lead through the mountains to the area are suspected of being heavily laden with improvise explosive devices.

This mission was also a chance to work with the Afghan national police, who provided to be a valuable asset during the mission.

"We had 11 ANP with us for the mission. I think it was good for them because none of these guys have even been on a helicopter before," said Neumann. "They did a great job today. We had them search the compounds and they found the bomb making material."

The last part of the mission was getting to talk to the locals about problems they have in the area and how the Soldiers can help them.

"We talk to them about issues they are having and we are planning to help them anyway we can," said Neumann. "Currently, the village doesn't have an elder who represents them at the shuras and we tried to push them to do so. Right now, they seem reluctant but we hope we can get them more involved so they can receive help from more than just us."

For the battalion commander, the day couldn't have gone much better.

"I think after this mission, we validated our air assault abilities, we got a better understanding of Mansurabad and we got to work with the ANP," said Neumann. "All in all, the whole mission was a success."

• Date Taken: 04.26.2010
• Date Posted: 04.26.2010 01:49
• Story ID: 48685
• Location: FRONTENAC, AF