Photo By Sgt. Mitch Armbruster | Pfc. John Ascencio, a terrain analyst with the 320th Engineer Co., works on a map...... read more read more
Soldiers with the terrain analysis detachment from the 320th Engineer Company provide maps and terrain analysis to 3rd Corps Support Command and its subordinate units to help them accomplish their missions.
The four-Soldier detachment, part of an active duty brigade from Germany, is on its first deployment with a COSCOM. Sgt. 1st Class Francis Dobrisky, the NCOIC of the detachment, said that they were chosen after working with the COSCOM on two field exercises.
The team works in a small shack next to the 3rd COSCOM headquarters making maps or creating overlays for units on Logistical Support Area Anaconda. The team can give information on the type of soil, vegetation and hydrology that are in a specific area.
Soldiers can use this information to understand the types of roads, rivers or canals they might be dealing with as well as the depth or slope of the terrain. There are tactical applications for this knowledge, but it can also help Coalition forces give the Iraqi people vital information to help them stimulate their economy.
The team uses soil type to determine where vehicles can go.
They have a scale that ranges from go, slow go, and no go. By making these determinations, the terrain analysis team can give units the vital information they need to make a mission successful.
"We have the ability to make hard copy maps or take the same maps and transfer them digitally to other parts of the 3rd COSCOM when they might need them," Dobrisky said.
Business for the team is dictated by customer requests. Dobrisky said they receive up to 10 requests a day. The detachment has been working in Iraq for three months, taking nearly 200 requests for information and put together approximately 500 map products.
"We've been extremely busy," Dobrisky said. "It's validated the need for a terrain team here."
The products the terrain team puts out prompted many units to put in requests for their maps.
"Our business grows by word of mouth," Dobrisky said.
Each terrain team has a different symbol to mark their maps. Teams can take any map and adapt it to the needs of each unit. Most of the time, the team will use a map already made and add specific items to it. If items on the map, such as boundaries, buildings or roads have changed drastically, the team will reproduce the map.
Recent boundary changes and forward operating bases being turned over to the Iraqis makes some maps obsolete. Terrain analysis is an ever-changing job because maps need to be updated constantly.
Dobrisky said his team has performed at an exceptional level while in Iraq.
"These guys are the geniuses on this stuff," Dobrisky said.
His team is skilled and well trained in terrain analysis. Spc. William Tynes, a terrain analyst on the team, has a college degree in terrain analysis.
"There are a lot of things involved here that entail helping U.S. forces and helping secure victory with topographic analysis," Tynes said. "So many things are related to topology, such as cover and concealment and drop zones."
Spc. Glen Mathiak, a terrain analyst, believes that this deployment has given him a chance to be immersed in his job. Mathiak and Pfc. John Ascencio, agree that the best part of their job is pleasing the customer.
"I like when we feel like we have helped someone accomplish their mission," Ascencio, a terrain analyst with the detachment said.
The team knows that their maps and the work they do to specialize each project helps units and their Soldiers be successful.
"We are here for the customer. Our job is customer service," Ascencio said. Mathiak and Tynes agreed that customer service is a key factor in their job.
| Date Taken: | 01.19.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 01.19.2006 10:08 |
| Story ID: | 5145 |
| Location: |
| Web Views: | 148 |
| Downloads: | 24 |
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