Engineers emplace protection screen

Transcription

1 Multi-National Division Baghdad First Team...Team First Tuesday, July 21, 2009 Engineers emplace protection screen By 1st Lt. Ryan O Connor 46th ECB (H), PAO BAGHDAD The engineers of the 277th Engineer Company, based in San Antonio and serving with the 46th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy), 225th Engineer Brigade, completed the installation of 2,400 feet of sniper screen at Joint Security Station Zafarniyah July 18. The screen will provide the Coalition forces operating out of JSS Zafarniyah a significant force protection improvement, by limiting visibility into the base. The engineers found ways to adapt to the scorching heat and dust storms they encountered while continuing to display their trademark determination to complete missions on time. To accomplish the Zafarniyah sniper screen mission in the given timeframe, the Soldiers broke into small teams allowing them to perform continuous five hour shifts. Without a doubt this sniper screen mission has been the most challenging to date, said Cpl. Jason Bradshaw, Project Team Leader, 277th Eng. Co., a native of Rolla, Mo. The biggest challenge is the fact that up until now the force protection here at Zaf has relied heavily on concertina wire which is everywhere around and along the top of the wall where we are trying to emplace the sniper screen. For this sixth such mission, the engineers used a crane to lift and emplace a pre-made 60 foot section of fence and sniper screen. This was necessary to work around the countless obstacles along the wall which included combinations of jersey Photo by Lt. Col. Pat Simon, 225 Eng. Bde. PAO A Soldier with the 277th Eng. Co., 46th ECB (Heavy), 225th Eng. Bde., provides ground guidance to the driver of a military crane truck during night operations at JSS Zafaraniya July 18. The crane lifted the fabric woven fence onto the top of a 10-foot wall that will serve to provide force protection for Soldiers staying there. Photo by Lt. Col. Pat Simon, 225 Eng. Bde. PAO Spc. Ivan Reyes, of Waco, Texas, a carpenter with the 277th Eng. Co., 46th ECB (Heavy), 225th Eng. Bde., weaves ties through sniper screen fabric into a chain linked fence during night operations at JSS Zafaraniya barriers, t-walls, containerized housing units, connexes, electrical wiring and heavy military vehicle parking. Installing the extra wide washers on the back side of the walls to prevent the bolts from pulling through the cinder block wall during wind storms was another unique challenge the engineers overcame on this project. Ideally we prefer to work with concrete T-walls and use wedge anchors as a proven means to anchor the brackets to the wall. However in this case we were given a cinderblock wall of inconsistent structure to mount the brackets, stated Sgt. Robert Shilling, Project Team Leader, 277th Eng. Co., a native of Spokane, Wash. As a result, the new weak point became the cinder blocks and the extra wide washers were made to prevent the added force the sniper screen would generate from high winds from cracking and destroying the wall. After completion of the force protection project on July 18, the 277th Eng. Co., once again had an opportunity to realize the importance of their work on improving the safety conditions at JSS Zafarniyah, a vital base in the southeastern outskirts of Baghdad. The words of Spc. Dillon Arredondo, a native of San Antonio, Texas, uniquely summarized the mission at Zafarniyah. A mission like this is a winwin scenario, stated Arredondo. The 82nd Airborne has a safer base to live and operate from and I was able to lose 10 lbs and increase my physical strength.

2 PAGE 2 July 21, 2009 EOD team makes Soldiers feel safer By Sgt. Mary Phillips 30th HBCT PAO ZAIDAN, Iraq - The explosive ordnance disposal team at Combat Outpost Meade helps to make Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 113th Field Artillery Regiment, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, feel a little safer about traveling the roads south of Baghdad. The team deals with many different kinds of threats, helping to protect the Soldiers living at COP Meade. Most of these threats come in the way of improvised explosive devices. Pretty-much anything explosive, we re involved. said Airman 1st Class Hans Metz, with the 447th EOD, a native of Oakdale, Minn. Whether there is an IED on a route, or outside Meade, we take care of it. The EOD team also includes a weapons intelligence team member, Air Force Staff Sgt. Joel Schanbacher. It s really cool to be able to say You know what? Today I was able to put away a bad guy, Tech Sgt. Matthew Stark, with the 447th EOD, helps Sgt. Mica Joseph, with 1st Bn., 113th FAR, 30th HBCT, put on the bomb suit worn by EOD when they have to approach an explosive device. said Schanbacher, who hails from Atkins, Iowa. We collect evidence, send it off, find out who it was [who built or placed the device], and then they can be detained. Although the EOD Airmen are not part of the 30th Brigade, Lt. Col. Mac Grimes, battalion commander, feels they are still a very important part of the team. They give our Soldiers increased confidence that if they come across something, said Grimes, of Thomasville, N.C., EOD will be there and be able to take care of any threat that may be out there waiting for our troops. Son follows father s footsteps to Iraq By Sgt. Robert Jordan 30th HBCT PAO BAGHDAD A son might be expected to follow in dad s footsteps but for at least one family, those footsteps led to Iraq. Staff Sgt. Brian Prunty and his son, Spc. Josiah Prunty, are both members of the 86th Military Intelligence Company of the Colorado Army National Guard, and deployed to Iraq with the 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, North Carolina National Guard in May Both speak with pride about the others desire to join the National Guard and eventual deployment to Iraq. He was out of the military for 18 years and he rejoined in October 2006, said the younger Prunty about his father. He stepped up. The elder Prunty served in the Army from 1983 to 1989 and now serves as a linguist at Forward Operating Base Falcon. By enlisting in January 2007, the younger Prunty impressed his father. I am so proud. You raise them to be adults and his joining showed he could make good decisions, said the elder Prunty. The younger Prunty serves as an unmanned aerial system operator at Camp Taji, north of Baghdad.Service together although apart -- has strengthened their bond. I have to admit it was hard when he went to basic; heart pulling, said Brian. While in Denver on Guard related training, Brian traveled to see his son depart for basic training. I tried to see him when he took the bus to basic and I missed him by 10 minutes; that is a page in a parent s life, he said. The son returned and began to train in the same unit, impressing his father. I will sound like a baby, it touches my heart, said Brian. He works with great guys and does well with them. The longest Spc. Prunty had spent from home was basic training and his UAS school. While he followed his dad into the Guard, he didn t follow the same career path. I wanted to do something a little different. He was in linguistics and I wanted to do UAV (unmanned aerial vehicles), said the younger Prunty. UAVs are remote-controlled aircraft that patrol the battlefield providing up-to-date information for leaders on the ground. Photo by Sgt. Mary Phillips, 30th HBCT PAO While their work relationship is professional, the bonds of family do manage to break through. At high altitude training on Pikes Peak in Colorado everyone was saying goodnight; jokingly, so I said, good night Sgt. Dad and he replied good night Private Son, said Josiah before he was promoted. Training and deployment have kept them separated most of the time but recently they met at Taji. My dad, in June, came to our UAV site at Taji and saw me on the job, said the younger Prunty. It was good to hang out with my Dad. It was my best moment in Iraq. Having not seen him during the deployment, it brought tears to my eyes, said the elder Prunty. I thank God for the opportunity.

3 PAGE 3 July 21, 2009 Soldiers set sights on transition, targets Photo by Sgt. Joshua Risner, MND-B PAO Sgt. Christopher Bodkins, from Denton Texas, assigned to Co. B, DSTB, 1st Cav. Div., sets up paper qualification targets during a zero and qualification range at Caughman Range on VBC here, July 17. Photo by Sgt. Joshua Risner, MND-B PAO Spc. Wilbur DeShields, from Akron, Ohio, assigned to Co. A, DSTB, 1st Cav. Div., locks and loads a magazine in his M-16 rifle. By Sgt. Joshua Risner MND-B PAO BAGHDAD Soldiers of 1st Cavalry Division sharpened their skills during a zero and qualifying range at Caughman Range on Victory Base Complex here, July 17, to keep their tactics in good working order. The range gave Soldiers the opportunity to keep their skills polished with their assigned weapon in case they would have to use it in a combat situation. Even though Coalition forces have transitioned away from combat operations, insurgents have not quit fighting. It s extremely important because you never know what s going to happen, said Sgt. Tanisha Manning, from Oakland, Calif., assigned to Company B, Division Special Troops Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division. We can t get complacent and we have to make sure that we re ready to train and we re ready to fight the enemy if we have to, to protect ourselves. Soldiers endured hot temperatures and dusty conditions to make sure their weapons and their skills were up to par. Space is limited on Victory Base Complex, so the Soldiers fired at paper targets on a relatively small range. Here, it s kind of close; in the states it s more spread out, said Manning. The paper targets were a new concept for many of the Soldiers, so it was an added challenge, according to Spc. Wilbur DeShields, a native of Akron, Ohio, assigned to Co. A, DSTB, 1st Cav. Div. It s different getting used to the paper targets, said DeShields. With the pop-ups, you re moving around and reacting but these are right there in front of you and it s easy to get complacent and let it get away from you. For some Soldiers, the range was a nice change of pace from normal duties, according to Pfc. Lauren Mc- Keehan, assigned to Co. A, DSTB, 1st Cav. Div. I like it, it s a chance to get away from the office, said the Texarkana, Ark. native. Some of us don t go outside the wire often and the practice gives us confidence. A big focus of the range was to strengthen and reinforce the Soldiers confidence in their abilities and in their equipment, Manning explained. When they walk off the range after qualifying and they re like Hey, I m good with my weapon! I think they re a lot more confident with themselves and with their weapon, she said. We can t get lackadaisical; we have to make sure that our weapons stay up to par and we stay up to standard. As the heat of the noonday sun seared the landscape, the firing had ceased. The Soldiers who had participated in the day s event had come away with a strengthened sense of proficiency, both in their weapon and their warrior skills. Though the Iraqi Security Forces have taken the lead in security operations, the Soldiers of the DSTB are prepared for anything that may come their way.

4 PAGE 4 July 21, 2009 On This Day In Military History 1945 The Potsdam Conference continues. Churchill, Truman and Stalin confer on politics and strategy, in a town near Berlin. Although very little information about the CHURCHILL, TRUMAN, STALIN progress of the Big Three Conference is being made public, it is reported that much has been done. The leaders have spent an average of almost 3 hours together since their first meeting on Tuesday and there are also frequent and lengthy meetings between the foreign affairs ministers (Eden, Byrnes and Molotov), committees and subcommittees of experts. In a private meeting Truman and Churchill agree to drop the atomic bomb on Japan if it fails to surrender unconditionally. Meanwhile, Allied representatives select Nuremberg as the location of the trial of the main Nazi war leaders. Famous Feats of Chuck Norris Did you know? Contrary to popular belief, America is not a democracy, it is a Chuctatorship. MND-B Pic of the day! Photo by Lt. Col. Pat Simon, 225th Eng. Bde. PAO BAGHDAD Lampasas, Texas native, Staff Sgt. Daniel Altman, 1st Cavalry Division Fire Support Element, enjoys his Sunday afternoon on the rooftop of the 225 Engineer Brigade Headquarters building practicing his golf swing July 18 at Camp Liberty, Iraq. I just started playing, said Altman who enjoyed a little recreation on a warm afternoon. POC: SFC Denton MND-B EOA tamatha.denton@ mnd-b.army.mil Need Volunteers willing to share dancing, singing, cooking, and creative skills for the upcoming Hispanic Heritage Month.

5 PAGE 5 July 21, 2009 Quote For Today All great achievements require time. Maya Angelou, American author, poet, stateswoman Iraq 3-Day Weather Report Today 113 F 91 F Tomorrow 114 F 91 F Thursday 113 F 89 F TRIVIA TIME!! What was the first war in which one jet plane shot down another? Cav Round-Up radio newscast available MND-B PAO BAGHDAD The Cav Round- Up is a three-minute radio newscast from Baghdad covering military units and events across Multi-National Division Baghdad. Today s Cav Round-Up # 114 was produced by Sgt Erik Fardette, MND-B Public Affairs Office. The July 20th newscast includes the following two stories: Last Issue s Answer: Georgia 1. 1st Calvary Division soldiers sharpen their marksmanship skills. Sgt. Lisa Heise reports. Soldiers hit the range to hone skills during a slow time. Range time builds confidence, says safety officer. Refresher course is always needed for those who aren t in a combat MOS. The ultimate goal is to have it become like a reflex. Soldiers should be comfortable with their weapon. 2. U.S. soldiers train their Iraqi counterparts in the construction trade. IA Soldiers were trained in cutting wook and building towers so they can help train their Soldiers. NIPR LINK: Cav Round-Up SIPR LINK: Cav Round-Up Check out more news at the 1st Cavalry Division s homepage: Trigger s Teasers The objective of the game is to fill all the blank squares in a game with the correct numbers. There are three very simple constraints to follow: Every row of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Every column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Every 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 through 9. Every Sudoku game begins with a number of squares already filled in, and the difficulty of each game is largely a function of how many squares are filled in. The more squares that are known, the easier it is to figure out which numbers go in the open squares. As you fill in squares correctly, options for the remaining squares are narrowed and it becomes easier to fill them in. Yesterday s Answers Multi-National Division - Baghdad Public Affairs Office Commanding General: Maj. Gen. Daniel Bolger Public Affairs Officer: Lt. Col. Philip Smith Public Affairs Chief: Master Sgt. Nicholas Conner Editor: Spc. Howard Alperin Staff Writers: Sgt. 1st Class Ron Burke Sgt. 1st Class Joel Quebec Staff Sgt. Mark Burrell Sgt. 1st Class Jon Cupp Staff Sgt. Peter Ford Sgt. Joshua Risner Sgt. Jon Soles Spc. Laura Johnson Spc. Phillip Adam Turner The Daily Charge is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. Army. Contents of The Daily Charge are not official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of the Army, or the 1st Cavalry Division. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of the Army, the 1st Cavalry, or The Daily Charge of the products and services advertised. All editorial content of The Daily Charge is prepared, edited, provided and approved by the Multi-National Division Baghdad Public Affairs Office. Do you have a story to share? The Daily Charge welcomes columns, commentaries, articles, letters and photos from readers. Submissions should be sent to the Public Affairs NCOIC nicholas.conner@mnd-b.army.mil and include author s name, rank, unit and contact information. The Daily Charge reserves the right to edit submissions selected for the paper. For further information on deadlines, questions, comments or a request to be on our distribution list, the Editor at howard.alperin@mnd-b.army.mil