United States Division-Center Saturday, January 16, 2010 Air Cav first to employ new unmanned aircraft system By Sgt. Travis Zielinski to being flown remotely 1st ACB, USD-C from the United States. It CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Plac- has a wing span of 56 feet ing a new aircraft in a and is capable of carrying combat situation is a true Hellfire missiles. test of its capabilities and The Department of the future role within the Army wanted QRC1 to Army. be assigned to the Bagh- Unmanned aircraft sys- dad area of operations; tems have become a main- and since the 1st Cavalry stay in military operations Division was in charge of Photo by Sgt. Travis Zielinski, 1st ACB, 1st Cav. Div., USD-C during Operation Iraqi operations for Baghdad at After completing a 24-hour mission, an MQ-1C Sky Freedom; injecting new the time, the unit fell under Warrior aircraft from Quick Reaction Capability 1, at- concepts and technologies 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, tached to 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, U.S. Division – Center, makes a landing here Jan. 11. will only further push the said Capt. Travis Blaschke, The Soldiers of QRC1 conduct daily operations in sup- uses of these aircraft. from Spokane, Wash., port of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Quick Reaction Ca- commander of QRC1. pability 1, attached to 1st “This aircraft is in its determine the direction the common inventory. Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st infancy. The aircraft that program will go. The Army saw a need Cavalry Division, U.S. we have right now on “Our mission is to sup- for having division-level Division – Center, is a the flight line are the first port [U.S. Division – Cen- UAS assets similar to the small unit of 16 Soldiers aircraft produced by Gen- ter] on all of their [recon- Air Force Predator. The deployed from Unmanned eral Atomics Aeronautical naissance surveillance Sky Warrior MQ-1C will Aircraft Systems Train- Systems and deployed by and target acquisition] answer this need, said ing Battalion out of Fort the Army,” said Blaschke. missions by providing Blaschke. Huachuca, Ariz., that has “All of the aircraft were aero-scout capabilities to “We [QRC1] are actu- spent the past months built during the Develop- the maneuver command- ally testing the concept putting the new MQ-1C ment and Testing phase er,” said Blaschke. “Our of operations, system Sky Warrior UAS through of the acquisition process, secondary mission is to limitations, hardware and numerous tests to help which means all the air- validate the MQ-1C for the software,” he said. “We Department of Army of- craft are prototypes.” program of record.” are working through a lot ficials determine the path Even though the Sky Program of record is the of challenges by forging a of the unmanned aircraft Warrior is still in a testing final milestone for any new path, but it has been systems. phase, it is being used in new Army asset. This will worth it to see the incred- The Sky Warrior, a missions to support units move the MQ-1C from de- ible progress. system larger than the on the ground. Through velopment and testing into “To think that the Predator, is operated by these missions, the QRC1 full rate production and Soldiers in Iraq as opposed unit is gathering data to adoption into the Army’s See ~ Unmanned Pg. 2 PAGE 2 Saturday, January 16, 2010

Unmanned ~ From Pg. 1

company was created Warrior will be armed with 14 months ago, finished Hellfire missiles, which qualification training eight will add another dimension months ago and we are to its combat role. now conducting full spec- “This is an aircraft trum RSTA missions in that can have different theater is pretty amazing,” pay loads,” said Blaschke. he said. “It has the capability of QRC1 is a program actually looking out long that has been developed distances in order to find to assume and mitigate a the enemy in different lot of the risk for the POR, ways. Whether it is using Photo by Sgt. Travis Zielinski, 1st ACB, 1st Cav. Div., USD-C which should be devel- the image intelligence, An MQ-1C Sky Warrior unmanned aircraft system from oped in about three years, using signal intelligence, Quick Reaction Capability 1, attached to 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, U.S. Division – Center, sits said Blaschke. using measuring intel- dormant in a hanger. If the QRC1 program ligence, this platform can is successful, the Army has not only find the enemy display model without the Everything taught in a plan in place to give ev- but will ultimately be able men and women who op- the schoolhouse and every- ery aviation brigade mul- to engage and neutralize erate the aircraft and know thing done here is done for tiple Sky Warriors starting the enemy.” its full capabilities. one reason, said Palowitc; in 2011, said Blaschke. The Sky Warrior “The operators of the to support the ground The aircraft would be a also has the capability to system need to be at the troops. division-level asset and point out targets for other highest level of proficiency “I definitely think this would be further dispersed aircraft – enabling them and also maintain the prop- is a unique aircraft and down to the combat units to hit their target while the er situational awareness to once the systems come to support the maneuver Sky Warrior aims, said ensure they are supporting up to par, I believe it will commanders. Blaschke. It can guide in a the ground commander to be a valuable asset for the “To date, the major- Hellfire from an AH-64D the best of their ability,” Army to have in many dif- ity of the missions we are Apache attack helicopter said Blaschke. ferent situations,” he said. conducting involve the dis- or even Joint Direct Attack Unlike the Air Force, The QRC1 unit is on semination of full-motion Munitions from an F/A-18 who only allows offi- the edge of the envelope video, which provides situ- Super Hornet, F-16 Fight- cers to operate UAS, the and Army leaders have ational awareness for the ing Falcon or F-22 Raptor Sky Warrior operators of high expectations for the commanders at battalion, – making a hunter-killer QRC1 consist of officers, future of the Sky Warrior brigade and even divi- team. warrant officers and en- program, according to sion,” said Blaschke. “We “This aircraft will listed personnel. Blaschke. have been over-watching be standing side-by-side Twenty-year-old Spc. “We are in the process air assaults, cordon and Army maneuver assets, ro- Josh Palowitch, from of honing the operators’ searches; conducting re- tary wing teams on air as- Grayson, Ky., QRC1, is proficiency to the highest connaissance and surveil- sault missions, or teaming one of three Soldiers at his levels and also developing lance.” with the ground maneuver rank qualified to operate this aircraft to the pinnacle Along with the ability commanders on cordons or the Sky Warrior in garrison of reliability and lethality,” to conduct surveillance raids,” said Blaschke. and combat operations. said Blaschke. “The future and fly well beyond a However, the Sky War- Given the uniqueness of of MQ-1C operations is dozen hours, once test- rior with all of its technol- his position, Palowitch only limited by the breadth ing is complete, the Sky ogy is nothing more than a remains humble. of our imagination.” PAGE 3 Saturday, January 16, 2010

MULTIPLE SHOWS! Monday (1/18) 1200 hours at Camp Victory main stage

Monday (1/18) 1900 hours at Camp Slayer’s Lion’s Den MWR

Tuesday (1/19) 1200 hours at East Liberty’s Raider DFAC

Tuesday (1/19) 1900 hours at the Sather Air Base movie tent

About Keri Noble and in 2003 she signed with the ma- she released her EP, “Leave Me in jor recording label EMI. She is often the Dark”, and November brought Keri Noble (born 1975) is an Ameri- compared to Norah Jones. She left the release of her first-ever holiday can singer-songwriter born in Fort EMI in 2005 and signed with JVC cd, “Winter Comes Again”, which Worth, Texas and raised in Detroit. in Japan where she achieved great she produced herself. Her father was a Baptist minis- success, enabling her to continue to Currently, Noble resides in Min- ter, and Noble sang in church as a write and perform in the US without neapolis, Minn., with her cat, Akiko, child. She attended a local Assembly the support of a label. and continues to tour both the U.S. of God school for jr. high and high In 2008, Noble signed with and Japan in support of her albums. school in Dearborn Heights Mich.,. Telarc Records in the U.S. and For additional information After meeting Billy McLaughlin, released a full-length album (self about Keri Noble go to http://www. she moved to Minneapolis, Minn., titled) in February, 2009. In June, kerinoble.com.

Camp Liberty MWR Calendar Calendar events start at 2000

Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Smooth Grooves 8 Ball Pool Texas Hold’em Spades Karaoke & Ping Lone Wolf Comedy Tour Jan. 16 at noon Pong Sather Air Base outdoor MWR 17 18 19 20 PAGE 4 Saturday, January 16, 2010

USD-C pic of the day

Photo by Spc. Jared Eastmen, 1AAB PAO, 3rd Infantry Division, USD-C BAGHDAD – Staff Sgt. Derick Polk, a topographic supervisor assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Cmpany, 1st Advise and Assist Brigade, Third Infantry Division, and a Camden, N.J. native, re-enlists at Contingency Operating Station Falcon, Jan 14.

Weather Today Tomorrow Monday Tuesday Wednesday Quote of the Day “The noblest service comes 73° F | 50° F 77° F | 57° F 77° F | 59° F 71° F | 51° F 70° F | 50° F from nameless hands, and the best servant does his work For more coverage of what USD–C Soldiers are doing, pick unseen. ” up a copy of the upcoming issue of The Iron Guardian in publication Jan. 18. -Anonymous-

1AD Today is an autho- Writers & Photographers rized publication for Commanding General The 366th Mobile Public members of the U.S. Maj. Gen. Terry Wolff Affairs Detachment/ 1st Army. Contents of 1AD Public Affairs Officer Brigade Combat Team, 1st Today are not necessar- Lt. Col. Eric Bloom Cavalry Division Public Af- ily official views of, or Command Information Supervisor fairs Office/ 1st Air Cavalry endorsed by, the U.S. Master Sgt. Eric Pilgrim Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division/ Government, Department of Defense, De- Senior Editor 4th Striker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry partment of the Army or the 1st Armored Division Public Affairs Office/ 16th Engineer Division. All editorial content of 1AD Sgt. 1st Class Kristina Scott Brigade Public Affairs Office/ 30th Heavy Today is prepared, edited, provided and Editor, Layout & Design Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office/ approved by the 1st Armored Division Pfc. Debrah Sanders and the 2nd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division Public Affairs Office. Public Affairs Office.

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