Courtesy Photo | Pfc. Joseph Baudhuin (left) and Pfc. Robert Shofner (right), both of Headquarters and...... read more read more
By Sgt. 1st Class Jerry Malec
Fires Brigade PAO
BAGHDAD --The 4th Infantry Division's Rear Operations Center is considered the eyes and ears of what's happening outside the wire, 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week.
The Soldiers who run the ROC come from the Fires Brigade and are charged with gathering and passing on information quickly to commanders at all levels.
"I work as a radio transmission operator where I listen for the updates and changes in convoy routes, route status, and nine-line medivac requests for all of Iraq," said Pfc. Joseph Baudhuin, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, Fires Bde.
Baudhuin, along with his fellow Soldiers, maintain constant situational awareness..
"I actually see what's happening all over Iraq everyday," said Baudhuin, with a serious look on his face as he also explained that all the information he gathers gets reported each day to give commanders a clear picture of what's happening on the ground.
The hardest part about the job is reporting the serious incidents involving Soldiers, said Baudhuin, a recent high school graduate from Lakeville, Minn.
"Hearing it over the radio " it's almost like you are really there, but you then remember that you have to pass on what you hear over the radio quickly and without hesitation."
Baudhuin is not alone. He has a battle buddy whose been by his side through basic combat and advanced individual training, his first assignment at Fort Hood and now, his first deployment " Pfc. Robert Shofner, also of HHB, Fires Bde.
While both Soldiers said they started out a bit rough in basic training, they motivated each other through air traffic controller school at Fort Rucker, Ala., to graduate from a specialty that has only a 33 percent pass rate.
"He seems like a brother to me now," said Baudhuin, of Shofner. "Being roommates, you really learn a lot about somebody " what gets on their nerves. You know what makes them happy, you laugh together because you are going through the same stuff together."
"I first found out about him because he had gained the name "Cheeseburger" in basic training," said Shofner, with a slight chuckle.
"He ate a cheeseburger when he was not supposed to at chow, then we were all smoked for that. From then on, we all called him Cheeseburger " nobody really knew his real name," said Shofner, a Jasper, Texas, native.
"Overall, the two of them are very squared away," said Sgt. 1st Class Antwone Reese, ROC noncommissioned officer in charge.
"They always seem to know what to do, when to do it and they work very well together, which in turn, makes my job a whole lot easier," continued Reese.
Although glad he has a battle buddy to lean on throughout his deployment, Baudhuin admits it still is hard to be far from home.
"My wife Katelynn's birthday was just the other day, and I really wished I could have been there for that," said a slightly misty-eyed Baudhuin. "But I sent her a gift a while ago, and I called home on her birthday and heard her open it up " and that was really neat."
"The Army is great. They take care of you. They take care of your families, and I
really want to make this a career if my wife will let me," said Baudhuin.
| Date Taken: | 01.29.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 01.29.2006 07:24 |
| Story ID: | 5239 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 210 |
| Downloads: | 40 |
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