Photo By Pvt. Deangelo Wells | Maj. John Lim, brigade chaplain, 3rd Advise and Assist Brigade, 4th Infantry Division,...... read more read more
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DHI QAR PROVINCE, Iraq – Soldiers of 64th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Advise and Assist Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, along with KBR civilians, continue to deliver much needed supplies to Camp Garry Owen in the Maysan province, Sept. 7.
The 64th BSB is tasked to bring supplies from Camp Adder, near Nasiriyah, to various military installations at a moment’s notice. According to soldiers, they can bring supplies to one station one day, refuel, and then be tasked to bring more to another the next day.
“As a brigade support battalion, we are the ones to bring the supplies to the other units within the brigade,” said Sgt. 1st Class Tiffany Brown-Ramos of Mobile, Ala., healthcare specialist and convoy commander, Alpha Company, 64th BSB.
These soldiers have accomplished more than 30 supply shipments throughout the bases of southern Iraq since being deployed. Although the trek to Garry Owen is eight hours from Adder, the soldiers of 64th BSB have so far delivered 20 shipments there to keep the soldiers well supplied.
Despite the long hours it takes to gather the supplies, maintain and perform quality control on the vehicles, and drive throughout the night, these soldiers continue to get the job done.
“I tip my hat off to all of you here,” said Lt. Col. Geoff DeTingo, 64th BSB commander. “I tip it off to you for what you guys do every day. Going out to these places and always completing the mission.”
Soldiers of 64th BSB don’t just go to Garry Owen without preparation. Before setting out on any supply runs, soldiers prepare themselves and each other through pre-combat checks and inspections, mission briefings, rehearsals and run-throughs.
After staging the vehicles in order and inspecting the equipment and soldiers, Brown-Ramos and other noncommissioned officers give a very thorough briefing on the mission. The briefings contain subjects such as routes that will be taken, convoy objectives and duties, call signs and recent enemy activities on the routes the convoy is travelling.
After the mission briefing, soldiers go through an intensive dry run of improvised explosive device response procedures, and dismount routines. Each soldier runs through the rehearsals, acting out the emergency response for an improvised explosive device. The rehearsal included responding to finding a threat or being hit with an explosive charge, explosive ordinance companies being called out, perimeter control and convoy movement afterward. The rehearsals are run until each group of soldiers show they completely understand their actions as part of the team. Soldiers then eat dinner, gear up and start their journey.
“We go through the rehearsal before each convoy,” said Pvt. Tramaine James of Sunsea, S.C., fueler, Company B, 64th BSB. “We don’t leave until everyone knows what they have to do.”
The convoy arrives at Garry Owen within 10 hours after leaving from Adder, if there are no malfunctions with the vehicles or tactical stops. Soldiers are then briefed on the next 24 hours of operations covering where they will sleep, when they will eat, and the preparation for the next day’s mission to return to Adder.
Those long 8 to 10 hour drives, can make it hard to remain alert. Soldiers use many methods to keep their vigilance up. Between constant convoy information being given out, random and sometimes thought provoking conversations within one vehicle, cold drinks from a cooler and even a few snacks, these soldiers have spent so much time doing these convoys together that they have found techniques on keeping themselves and each other alert but also entertained.
“We train to work long hours and be up all night to accomplish the mission,” said Pvt. George Braithwaite, truck driver, Company B, 64th BSB of Jacksonville, Fla. “I was trained to transport supplies and do what I am doing now. That’s what my sergeants ask of me so that’s what I do.”
| Date Taken: | 09.07.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 09.27.2010 07:11 |
| Story ID: | 57055 |
| Location: | DHI QAR PROVINCE, IQ |
| Web Views: | 247 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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