Rakkasan Artillery Battery Takes on an Unusual Role

Photo By Sgt. Waine Haley | Pfc. Andrew J. Hershey, a medic for the Red Knights' Alpha Company, 3/320th FAR, questions two Iraqis while out on patrol through the area know as the Northern Military Compound, Tikrit, Iraq.  

TIKRIT, IRAQ

01.24.2006

Courtesy Story

133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

by Spc. Waine D. Haley
133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

TIKRIT, Iraq (January 20, 2006) - Since the Rakkasans have taken over the Salah Ad Din province, it has become necessary for them to take military jobs and tasks traditionally designated to infantry soldiers

Alpha Battery, 3rd Battalion 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, known as the Red Knight's Gator Battery, are artillery men that have become infantrymen.

"We're prepared to do the artillery mission but we're doing an infantry-based skill," said Capt. Peter Gray, Gator Battery Commander, "We interact with the locals, the local Iraqi police and Iraqi army. We also do combat patrols, route clearance and just about any other infantry job out there."

According to Gray, the troops are doing an excellent job with their new tasks. It excites them to train and execute infantry-type missions such as clearing buildings, conducting raids, and monitoring route statuses.

The troops are also taking on the non-traditional task of training Iraqi Police and Iraqi Army to help with securing the local area.

"They [Gator Battery Soldiers] take this job very seriously and they are a big part of this type of training in the Tikrit area," said Gray, "We liaison with the security forces to try to teach them the right way to go about things."

According to Gray, the Red Knights use Non-Commissioned Officers to take a look at Iraqi standards and use officers to teach the Iraqis about planning and the right ways to use their troops. They also show them how to utilize resources to help the people of this area.

Gator Battery will assist the Iraqis in the area north of Tikrit. The area is approximately 25 mile stretch of land consisting of an old military complex, four population centers and a large portion of the Western desert.

The battery is responsible for ensuring that local Iraqi leadership is doing the best they can to help the locals with security and infrastructure.

According to Staff Sgt. David G. VanKuren, Section Chief, the joint efforts between the Coalition Forces and the Iraqi Security Forces will make Tikrit a better place for business to prosper, for families to live and for children to grow up.

"This is my second tour over here," said VanKuren "I don't mind doing this kind of work. I'm a father of five, I see how little these people have. It touches my heart to know we are helping the kids of this area".

• Date Taken: 01.24.2006
• Date Posted: 01.24.2006 14:06
• Story ID: 5193
• Location: TIKRIT, IQ