Courtesy Photo | Cpl. Eric Cassavaugh, a Baltimore native and petroleum supply specialist assigned to...... read more read more
By Staff Sgt. Robert DeDeaux
CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE WARRIOR, Iraq – In addition to daily responsibilities, the Security platoon of Company A, 101st Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Advise and Assist Task Force, 1st Infantry Division ensures critical supply convoys arrive at multiple locations throughout the Kirkuk province in northern Iraq.
Tracking Iraqi Police checkpoints; communicating with U.S. forces at contingency operating sites; maintaining millions of dollars of equipment and sensitive items and conducting security for logistics patrols sound like the responsibilities of commanders and their staffs—not the actions of a single platoon, said Staff Sgt. Brent Budd, track vehicle repairer, Company A.
Logistics are the heart of Operation New Dawn, and the Soldiers of Company A take the mission to push needed supplies to the men and women deployed to U.S. Division-North seriously, said Budd, who serves as a Security platoon convoy commander during logistics patrol.
“The routes we travel every day are like the veins, and like a heart we’re moving all the time,” he said.
The Security platoon ensures rations, medical supplies, fuel and ammo are delivered regularly to the contingency operating sites in Kirkuk province, said Budd, a native of El Dorado Springs, Mo.
The supply soldiers operate from Contingency Operating Site Warrior traveling tens of miles to deliver supplies to the soldiers conducting U.S. forces’ advise, train and assist mission.
After leaving COS Warrior, the logistics convoy must be prepared to overcome any obstacle that might prevent them from their objective, he said. If the supplies do not reach their destinations, it is like blood not making it to vital organs in the body, said Budd.
The Security platoon Soldiers are charged to provide safe transport for the supplies needed at the outlying bases in the province, said Budd.
The soldiers who maintain security for the logistics mission place a lot of stock in their responsibilities, taking every logistics patrol as the most important mission of the day.
The mission requires vigilance on the part of Security platoon soldiers, said Budd, who begin preparing at least four hours before each mission, conducting pre-combat checks and inspections, validating communications and verifying route conditions.
The squad leaders of Security platoon are responsible for ensuring that the mission is accomplished successfully and the soldiers are prepared for any contingency, said Budd.
“We even check the truck loads,” said Budd. “If something falls off that truck, and we get stuck out there on the road, we’re a sitting duck.”
“Prior to the convoy brief we (inspect) everyone and everything to ensure the convoy is ready to roll,” said Sgt. Corey Eggers, automated logistical specialist, Company A. “Then we will announce ‘Red Con One’ over the radio.”
Red Con One means they have full accountability of all personnel and sensitive items and are prepared to travel to the next location, said Corey, a Campaign, Ill., native.
Spc. Juan Marcial, a land combat electronic missile system repairer, Company A, 101st BSB, said the soldiers of Security platoon believe they have one of the most important missions in 1st AATF, Task Force Devil, and are ready to meet any challenge or make any sacrifice to accomplish the mission.
“Our Mission is important,” said Marcial, a native of Marsing, Idaho, who serves as a truck gunner. “How would anyone like it if they were stuck out there, and food, fuel and mail couldn’t make it to them?”
| Date Taken: | 03.01.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 03.23.2011 11:12 |
| Story ID: | 67600 |
| Location: | CONTINGENCY OPERATING STATION WARRIOR, IQ |
| Web Views: | 69 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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