Courtesy Photo | Soldiers from B Battery, 1/115th Field Artillery at Camp Al Taqqadum check their M2...... read more read more
CAMP AL TAQQADUM, Iraq - In the Army, one thing Soldiers can depend on consistantly is change.
The Soldiers of Battery B, 1-115th Field Artillery of the Tennessee National Guard prove daily the adaptability of the modern Soldier.
The first major change the battery encountered for their deployment to Iraq was to pack up the artillery and jump into semi-trucks as they were transitioned into a transportation company.
The battery first sergeant, 1st Sgt. Darrell Murray, explained that was only the first mission change the unit faced.
"We pull security for convoys now," Murray said. "At first we were driving PLSs (Palletized Load Systems), and then they rearranged everything and made us the gun trucks."
Murray said he had no doubts about his Soldiers successfully transitioning into a transportation company.
"We're the "Volunteer" state," said Murray.
Murray said about half of his unit are Soldiers cross-leveled to fill vacancies left when other Soldiers volunteered for previous rotations to Iraq.
"We put a request to all of the units in our battalion and brigade before we mobilized asking for volunteers," said Murray. "We had no problem filling slots. We had too many volunteers."
Murray said several Soldiers from his battery who were already Army-trained truck drivers attended a regional truck driver trainer's course, becoming certified instructors to assist the rest of the battery gain their new military occupational specialty.
"The Army Reserve teaches the class, but they didn't have enough instructors," Murray said. "So we augmented their staff. Now those same instructors help with classes over here."
Murray described the transition as smooth.
"We tried to keep as much prior unit cohesion as possible," said Murray. "For example, we had one platoon sergeant who volunteered, so we tried to keep the Soldiers that came from his detachment with him. It helped out a lot."
He said his unit has driven more than 500,000 miles.
"Some days are long and hard, but we're used to working long hours, being from artillery," Murray said. "We've had to go out on a few emergency recovery missions, but the Soldiers hold together and get the mission done."
Spc. David Pendleton, a gunner with the 115th, said the unit puts in a lot of work before missions to ensure their success.
"We have to make sure the trucks are running 100 percent, and that the weapons are ready," Pendleton said. "We also practice the missions before we go out."
He thought the transportation mission would be different than what the unit faces now.
"We were originally trained to drive M915s (semi-trucks)," said Pendleton. "We first came over with tractor-trailers, but once we got here they moved us over to gun trucks."
He said the transition from semis to gun trucks was a welcome change.
"We were excited," Pendleton said. "Maybe see a little more action."
Pendleton said he felt the biggest challenge he faces is getting into the right mindset before a mission.
"Preparing mentally for the missions can be tough," said Pendleton. "Sleep is the big thing. You have to get plenty of rest so you can be alert and in the right state of mind when you're outside of the wire."
He noted that his favorite part of a mission is test firing weapons before the mission begins.
"Shooting the weapons is great," Pendleton said. "We use .50 caliber machine guns and M249 SAWs (Squad Automatic Weapon). They're just awesome weapons."
While outside of the wire, he said improvised explosive devices (IEDs) are the greatest concerns.
"We've had a little action from small-arms fire, but nothing major," said Pendleton. "Awareness is the key to fighting IEDs. You've got to know what to look for on the roads, be alert."
Although vigilance helps reduce the number of attacks, it doesn't prevent them all, as Spc. Robert Hinkey, a truck commander for the 115th learned.
"We ran over an IED, and some fragments went in my arm and leg," said Hinkey. "It hurt, but I laughed about it after it happened."
Hinkey said the response of his unit increased his confidence in them.
"They responded very well. In just a few minutes they were in the truck, making sure I was OK and calling for a MEDEVAC (Medical Evacuation)," Hinkey said. "Everyone was working very well together. It was amazing. I didn't think they"d respond that quickly."
He said the worst part of his six-week recovery was not participating in missions.
"I was anxious to go back out," said Hinkey. "I was stuck on this base everyday watching them go out. It was driving me nuts."
Despite his injuries, Hinkey said he is happy to be in Iraq.
"We were all ready to come and serve our country and do our little part," Hinkey said. "We're doing something good to help the Iraqis get their country back. It feels good."
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| Date Taken: | 04.14.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 04.14.2006 13:16 |
| Story ID: | 6039 |
| Location: | AL TAQADDUM, IQ |
| Web Views: | 153 |
| Downloads: | 20 |
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