Photo By Staff Sgt. Leon Cook | Spc. Brandon Neill, a human intelligence collector with the 109th Military...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – A Boeing Vertol CH-47 Chinook helicopter descended to the ground outside of a walled compound, its twin rotors kicking up a huge cloud of dust. A platoon of Soldiers streamed from the helicopter’s ramp and moved toward the objective. Soldiers took positions near the compound’s two entrances. Machine gun teams set up positions to the north and south, over watching a nearby road. The area was isolated; no one would be able to enter or leave.
After the platoon reported the objective was isolated, another platoon disembarked from a second helicopter. This platoon quickly entered the compound and began clearing the buildings inside.
Their mission: to capture or kill the chief bomb maker of a smuggling and improvised explosive device network in the area.
Within moments of entering the compound, the soldiers had detained a man matching the description they had been given for their target. Soldiers turned the detainee over to a human intelligence team for tactical questioning.
After questioning the detainee, the human intelligence team determined that they had indeed found their high value target.
After briefly questioning other detainees and releasing them, the soldiers boarded the Chinooks and left, with a detainee in tow. The entire raid, from arrival to departure, lasted 30 minutes.
It was all in a day’s work for the soldiers of B Troop, 3rd Squadron, 38th Cavalry Regiment, part of the 201st Battlefield Surveillance Brigade here. The raid, conducted Dec. 7, was part of the squadron's commitment to provide tough, realistic training for its soldiers.
Though the mission was quick, it was preceded by hours of planning and rehearsals. Long range surveillance teams from C Company, 3-38 Cav. watched the compound overnight, and sent reconnaissance photos to aid the planning process. The troop made a map of the site with tape so everyone could get a better idea of what to expect. Soldiers repeatedly rehearsed their actions on the objective. Every soldier had to know his or her job as well as that of the soldier above and below him or her.
“We're training in actions on the objective, but also on the whole planning and rehearsal process itself, and it does take a long time, so it's realistic throughout,” said 2nd Lt. Matthew Hunter, leader of the troop’s 2nd platoon.
“I think it's important that we're getting to work together as a team. We're still a brand new unit, so it's important that we get to know how everyone works together,” said Pfc. Nicholas Wgeishofski, a rifleman with the troop.
The training also emphasized working together with the troop's enablers. A human intelligence team from the 109th Military Intelligence Battalion, 201st Battlefield Surveillance Brigade went along to question detainees.
“It’s good that we’re incorporating the MI guys now, because when we deploy, a lot of what we’ll do is provide support for them,” Wgeishofski said.
Helicopters from the 1st Squadron, 214th General Support Aviation Battalion flew the troop and its enablers to the objective. It was the first time in a helicopter for many of the soldiers.
“In Yakima [Training Center], we notionally flew but really just got into 15-passenger vans without seats, so actually flying this time was a great opportunity to familiarize ourselves with the helicopters,” Hunter said.
“I thought riding the helicopter was awesome. I’d like to fly helicopters later in my career, so I thought the opportunity to ride in one was pretty cool,” Wgeishofski said.
“It’s very important to work well with our enablers,” Hunter said. “If we can get that cooperation, we’re that much more likely to be successful.”
Although their mission was successful, the soldiers of B Troop didn't get a chance to rest on their laurels. Through information from their detainee, the troop was able to locate the leader of the local smuggling and IED network, and began planning a raid to capture him. This time, the raid would be conducted at night.
“We’ve been working long hours all week. It's tiring, but it's worth it because I'd rather be doing this than busy work in garrison,” Wgeishofski said.
| Date Taken: | 12.07.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 12.12.2011 16:26 |
| Story ID: | 81253 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 770 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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