Nov. 8-14, 2009 WEEKLY

Gunner’s great responsibility

Photo by Spc. Luisito Brooks, 4th SBCT PAO, 2nd Inf. Div. JOINT SECURITY STATION NASIR WA SALAM, Iraq – Pfc. Andrew Gault, a Spartenburg, S.C. native, screws on the barrel to .50 caliber machine gun before going on a with the Iraq Army on Nov. 10 in Nasir Wa Salam. Story by Spc. Luisito Brooks voy and how important the vehicle and provide Sgt. 1st Class Terry of a role they play in the 360-degrees of coverage. Plunkett, a member of BAGHDAD– As Spider- safety and the success of They also have the best a Military Transitional man learned early on, any mission. view. Team assigned to 4th “With great power comes On a convoy, many Positioned at the top of Stryker Com- great responsibility.” of the vehicles have a the vehicle, the gunner is bat Team, 2nd Infantry The same goes for vehi- gunner, usually equipped able to see and scan the Division, who sometimes cle gunners; the eyes, ears with either an M240 area better than anyone. serves as a gunner. and muscle on a convoy. Bravo or an .50 caliber “It is my job to see what The gunners in each It cannot be said enough machine gun. Together, happens near and around vehicle have different how important the vehi- they offer the heaviest our vehicle and the entire responsibilities, and each cle’s gunner is in a con- amount of fire-power in convoy,” said See GUNNER on page 2 ...GUNNER from page 1 one is just as important as the other. “The gunner in the lead vehicle has to be aware of what possible threats may come from the front, such as possible improvised explosive devices, and communicate that infor- mation with the driver and the entire convoy,” said Spc. Joe Duran, a Company B, 4th Battal- ion, 9th Infantry Regi- ment, 4th Bde., 2nd Inf. Div. gunner. “The gunner in the middle vehicles have pre- Photo by Spc. Luisito Brooks, 4th SBCT PAO, 2nd Inf. Div. selected sectors of fire, (Top) CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – Pfc. Kaniesha Smith (left), to the left and the right a Concord, N.C. native, of the convoy, to scan for connects the straps of the possible threats,” said safety harness. As the gun- Duran, a native of Miami. ner, the straps will keep her secured to the vehicle in “The gunner in the trail case of a vehicle roll over. vehicle has to understand that they are the biggest (Bottom) ABU GHRAIB, Iraq -- Spc. Jared Farris, a native targets in the convoy,” of Mattoon, Ill., now a scout said Sgt. Michael Rush, with Troop A, 2nd Squadron, a B Co., 4th Bn., 9th Inf., 1st Cavalry Regiment, oper- ates a .50 calibur machine 4th Bde., 2nd Inf. Div. gun. gunner. Photo by Pfc. Kimberly Hackbarth,4th SBCT PAO, 2nd Inf. Div. “We are responsible native. “Communication is the “The importance of a for traffic that comes up The gunners in each key because we have to gunner cannot be under- from behind and com- vehicle need to be able look out for one another,” rated or underestimated,” municating with all of the to clearly communicate said Rush. he said. “Our lives are vehicles what we see,” between all of the other Plunkett wholeheartedly dependent on that said Rush, a Lugoff, S.C. gunners and vehicles. agreed. to do their job.”

A gunner’s weapon of choice: • M240B Machine Gun • M249 Squad Automatic Weapon -Caliber:7.62 mm -Caliber: 5.56mm -Weight: 27.6 lbs -Weight: 16.5 lbs -Range: 1800m (area target) -Rate of fire: 750 rounds per minute • MK19-3 40MM Grenade Machine Gun • M2 Browning .50 Calibur Machine Gun -Caliber:40mm -Caliber: 50mm -Weight: 72.5lbs -Weight: 83.78 lbs -Range: 2200m (area target) -Rate of fire: <400 rounds per minute

2 The Raider Tribe Weekly Nov. 8-14, 2009 The thin blue line

Photo by Pfc. Kimberly Hackbarth, 4th SBCT PAO, 2nd Inf. Div. An Iraqi Policeman mans his Type 67 machine gun, providing security from the gunner’s turret of a police vehicle during a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Zaidon Market, Nov.12.

What’s your favorite part about being a gunner?

Photo by Pfc. Kimberly Hackbarth,4th SBCT PAO, 2nd Inf. Div.

“I like the fact that I pro- “[I enjoy the] remote “The diversity of my job. vide security for everyone weapons station so I can I don’t just do one particu- in the vehicle. Oh, and get out of the heat and stay lar thing; I have a whole I get to use a really big in the cold.” bunch of jobs.” weapon and I don’t have to carry it around.” -Sgt. William Baehr -Staff Sgt. Michael Bucci -Sgt. Jed Glover native of St. Louis, native of Chambersburg, Pa., native of Greenfield, Mass., gunner/vehicle gunner, gunner/vehicle commander, PSD, HHC, Bde. PSD, 2-1 Cav. PSD, HHC, Bde.

Nov. 8-14, 2009 The Raider Tribe Weekly 3 Raider Roll-up...

Wednesday November 11, 2009 CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq -- Col. John Norris, com- mander, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, awards a Soldier with brigade Headquarters and Headquarters Company with a combat patch on Veterans’ Day, Nov. 11. Units within the brigade all held their own patching ceremonies. Approximately 1,200 received their first combat patch.

Photo by Pfc. Kimberly Hackbarth, 4th SBCT PAO, 2nd Inf. Div.

Thursday November 12, 2009

BAGHDAD -- Spc. Andrew Nuemann (left), a Bemidji, Minn. na- tive, shows off his drawing of Bruce Campbell, depicting the actor in his role as Ash, from the movie “Army of Darkness.” “It is like looking in a mirror,” said Campbell, during a visit to Joint Security Station Nasir Wa Salam, Iraq, Nov. 12.

Photo by Spc. Luisito Brooks, 4th SBCT PAO, 2nd Inf. Div.

Col. John Norris Commander Saturday November 14, 2009 Command Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq -- with Huggins 702nd Brigade Support Battalion train Command Sgt. Maj. on how to load and transport a disabled Capt. Christopher Ophardt Stryker using an attachment to an Mine Public Affairs Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle. Sgt. Bryce Dubee MRAPs are the most common vehicle Public Affairs NCOIC found in Iraq and will help with recover- Contributing photojournalists: ing capabilities. Training took place in Spc. Luisito Brooks 702nd BSB’s motorpool. Pfc. Kimberly Hackbarth Banner created by: Photo by Spc. Luisito Brooks, 4th SBCT Mr. Damon Godinet PAO, 2nd Inf. Div.

The Raider Tribe Weekly is an authorized publication for members of the Department of Defense. Contents of The Raider Tribe Weekly are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, the Department of the Army, 2nd Infantry Division, or the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team. Editorial content is prepared, edited, and provided by the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office.