The Element of Surprise

Photo By Sgt. Barbara Ospina | A Soldier from 2nd Platoon, Company D, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, pulls security while another Soldiers search Iraqi citizens during an aerial traffic control point mission.  

03.07.2006

Courtesy Story

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The familiar sound of a magazine click echoes through the air as Soldiers file in and snap their seat belts. With a simple thumbs-up, a chilly gust of wind blows through the open doors. The security of the ground falls further below them, and the adrenalin kicks in as the Soldiers know that the element of surprise is on their side.

Bastogne Soldiers from Company D, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, boarded UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopters and set out on an aerial traffic control point mission, using speed and shock as they searched citizens and their vehicles.

"Conducting Aerial traffic control points gives us an advantage," commented Spc. Carson Keiser, a Soldier from 2nd Platoon, Company D. "Simply because the people on the ground don't expect it."

Though all of 2nd Platoon mounted for the mission, only one team (about five Soldiers) dismounted from each helicopter at each stop. After feeling the slight bump of the helicopter touching down, seat belts were quickly released and the Bastogne Soldiers rushed to dismount. With the thud of the last pair of combat boots hitting the dusty ground, the pilots lifted off, circling in the air to keep an eye on their comrades. Two of the Soldiers on the ground promptly set up a wooden sign stopping all traffic on the road, and then pulled security for the rest of the team. In no time at all the other Soldiers were treading through the tumbleweeds that had blown onto the road, signaling for people to get out of their cars so the searching could begin.

A colorful line of about 12 cars sat parked along the road. Soldiers chose to search one vehicle at time, allowing them to be more aware of their surroundings.

With time on their side, Soldiers politely waved the citizens out of each vehicle to be searched. While each individual was thoroughly patted down, and their pockets emptied, another Soldier checked every vehicle for any possible evidence of insurgent activity or connection. Once every glove box, trunk, hood, seat, and anywhere else items could be hidden was looked through, the passengers were allowed to return to their vehicle, and the Soldiers moved on to next search.

With the vehicle search coming to an end, the team leader radioed back to the pilots relaying the team's status.

"We have two vehicles left over," ripped through the radio.

With a simple "Roger out" the pilots carefully landed. In less than two minutes all Soldiers were back on board, and the helicopter was lifting off again.

With one mission complete and the pilots circling the helicopters through the clouds; the Soldiers enjoyed the feel of air rushing through the fuselage as they mentally prepared for the next surprise search.

• Date Taken: 03.07.2006
• Date Posted: 03.07.2006 09:30
• Story ID: 5627