Photo By Staff Sgt. Richard Andrade | Members of the Personnel Security Detachment assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters...... read more read more
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FORWARD OPERATING BASE SPIN BOLDAK, Afghanistan – Soldiers assigned to Combined Task Force Lightning exercised reacting to enemy contact while on a dismounted patrol, their primary focus is to provide security for the brigade commander whenever he leaves Jan. 24.
The Personnel Security Detachment assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 525th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade based in Fort Bragg, N.C., trained on mounted and dismounted patrol procedures as they prepare for the anticipated upsurge in violence from insurgent forces as the cold weather fades away in Afghanistan.
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Tom Brady, noncommissioned officer in charge of the PSD said the team practiced maintaining a 360 degree security around the principal, which in most cases is the brigade commander. He said the purpose of the exercise is for his soldiers to practice communicating effectively with one another, sometimes only using hand gestures, and make sure no one penetrates their perimeter placing the commander at risk.
The Fort Bragg, N.C., native shared his vast knowledge with the team. For example telling them he witnessed the enemy use children, women, and even mentally challenged people as suicide bombers in Iraq.
“If it doesn’t feel right and you see something you might consider a threat, put it down,” The infantryman told his team.
“Assess the situation, take well aimed shots, not just spray and pray,” the Iraq war veteran told the group.
With safety playing a key role, Brady told the group of infantrymen and cavalry scouts to take the training serious.
Once the weather starts to get warmer attacks on U.S. forces increases he said, “The enemy is very unpredictable, and I don’t want to lose any of my guys.”
During the different scenarios the security team practiced using hand signals, reacting to enemy contact, providing first aid and evacuating a casualty.
U.S. Army 1st Lt. Andrew Beckwith, officer in charge of the PSD, 525th BfSB, said the training is vital for the team in case of an elevated threat. He wanted to keep the training relevant and said it is always good to train for the worst-case scenarios.
The Westridge, Va., native told his team to exercise tactical patience and praised them for having good weapons discipline. “I have confidence in you to do the right thing [on patrol].”
The Mine Resistant Ambush Protected all terrain vehicles the PSD uses to move about the city are new to Beckwith and his team. He said he had never seen them prior to deploying to Afghanistan.
“They are definitely more armored compared to the Humvee,” Beckwith said. “They are saving a lot of lives.”
One exercise involved rehearsing security for a key leader engagement. It began with a convoy brief as if the team were going to leave the FOB. They lined up the vehicles in a tactical formation and drove them to an area where once dismounted they walked in their security posture constantly looking out for anything out of the ordinary.
Pfc. Jacob Cawley, an infantryman assigned to the PSD, 525th BfSB, said he enjoys working in the PSD. He said being flexible is key to being on the team.
“They are good guys that got your back,” said the Newark Valley, N.Y., native of his teammates.
Cawley said communicating effectively is vital in the event of an incident. “Today’s training was good to prepare us for the unexpected.
| Date Taken: | 01.24.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 01.31.2011 12:53 |
| Story ID: | 64533 |
| Location: | FORWARD OPERATING BASE SPIN BOLDAK, AF |
| Web Views: | 95 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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