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Tropic Lightning! PAGE 2 MAY 4, 2009 the “Eye in the Sky" Keeps Soldiers out of Harm's Way

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Tropic Lightning! PAGE 2 MAY 4, 2009 the “Eye in the Sky MND - NORTH VOLUME 2, ISSUE 8 PAGE 1 MAY 4, 2009 Specialist Conan Shuman and SPC Whitney Blaise of 176th Signal Company, Brigade Troop Battalion, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, raise an antenna mounted to the top of a Stryker combat vehicle on April 17. STORY and PHOTO BY A Retransmission (―Retrans‖) Team is of the 176th. Sgt. Jeremy Pitcher equipped with a set of four antennas which With these capabilities, the 176th has the 145th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment they utilize as they move to a new ability to move out and around the battlefield, locationand setup to receive incoming giving them a capability which distinguishes DIYALA, Iraq – Communications on the signals. These signals are then relayed from them from the rest of the communications battlefield are a crucial necessity which can the site to their desired location. Without the unit. be easily overlooked by the average Soldier retransmission, these signals would fall short "We are the only ones who go out with conducting their day-to-day business. The of their desired recipient and would not be the infantryman. What we do affects them ability to pick up a microphone and talk to heard. directly," said Gentile. another person may seem as simplistic as The real ingenuity came in making the In the end, the technology utilized by the just a push of the button, when in reality it is whole system mobile. Staff Sgt. Brian military would never meet its potential anything but. Gentile of the 176th believes their without dedicated, hard-working Soldiers that For Soldiers of the 176th Signal construction of mounting four antennas on have a passion for their jobs behind the Company, Brigade Troops Battalion, 1st each of the unit's two Stryker vehicles in wheel. Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry order to allow for near instant repositioning "It is all about the Soldier. Without the Division, the mission to keep may be a first for the Army. Soldier none of this would be possible," said communications working throughout the "Before, if we were told to go somewhere Sgt. Shane Smith of the 176th. Diyala Province is a daunting task. it was a long task, now it is like 'ok you want With the ever-evolving role of U.S. military Their response: go mobile. us there', and we're gone," said Gentile. forces in Diyala, and throughout Iraq, staying With three retransmitting teams, the This added mobility also adds to the ground flexible and mobile is crucial to taking the 176th has established two static locations in troops' ability to conduct missions. fight to the enemy. The Soldiers of the 176th strategic regions of the province in addition "Since we can resend communications a Signal Company are doing just that, while to employing a mobile asset that can travel long way it extends the battle-space for the making intricate complexities as simple as all over the battlefield to keep the eight troops. It allows them to move where they pushing a button. different communication networks going. are needed," said Specialist Harvey Watson ___________________________________ Tropic Lightning! PAGE 2 MAY 4, 2009 The “Eye in the Sky" Keeps Soldiers Out of Harm's Way Spc. Stephen Heinz, a Manassas, Va., native and unmanned aerial vehicle maintainer and operator for Company A, 2nd Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, cleans a UAV, April 12, on Forward Operating Base Warrior. The UAVs provide aerial reconnaissance capabilities and give Soldiers on the ground an extra "eye in the sky." and a UAV operator for Company A. "We Mushen. "We mitigate risk.― STORY and PHOTO BY can see things that they can't always see.― "If we get shot down, no one dies," said Pfc. Justin Naylor According to Mushen, the UAV offers Nunn. 2nd HBCT, 1st CAV Public Affairs Office Soldiers near real-time imagery of an area For the Soldiers who operate the UAVs, FORWARD OPERATING BASE WARRIOR, and can scout areas days in advance to give there is a direct relationship to the chance of Iraq – A group of insurgents waits in the dark Soldiers an idea of what to expect. mission success. to ambush a convoy. They sit patiently, This is especially true at night, because "It's a good feeling to be able to help eager to launch their planned the attack, the UAVs have infrared cameras that allow troops out," said Mushen. "You've made thinking they know what to expect. A few us to see really clearly, said Nunn. their job easier. You're an extra set of eyes.― minutes pass and then, suddenly, they are Nunn said UAVs are used to detect "The biggest reward is helping save lives inexplicably blinded by spotlights as Soldiers small-arms fire, uncovered improvised on the ground," said Nunn. seemingly from nowhere take advantage of explosive device sights and enemy activity, Mushen said many people believe flying a their disorientation and safely disarm them. and that UAVs are the first ones on the UAV is like a movie: lots of action. In reality, There was one thing that the attackers scene if the forward operating base receives there is actually a lot of time spent just flying did not consider; the "eye in sky" that can incoming fire. around, or making repairs to the vehicle on see in the dark. "If there is anything that happens, we get the ground. "Our mission is to provide route redirected to cover it," said Nunn. UAV operators go through a lot of checks reconnaissance, counter improvised For the Soldiers who are on the ground, before putting one in the air, explained Nunn. explosive device watch, counter indirect fire the UAVs give them the capability to see They ensure everything is working like it support and look for suspicious activity," said who is coming and going near the objective should, double-checking everything from the Spc. Mark Mushen, a San Antonio, Texas, a few hours before without worrying about headings to the engine. native and an unmanned aerial vehicle detection, said 2nd. Lt. Gen Mui, a Killeen, But, when a UAV finally finds something, operator for Company A, 2nd Special Troops Texas, native and a battle captain for 4th it makes it all the preparation worthwhile, Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd BCT, said Mushen. Cavalry Division. 1st Cav. Div. ___________________________________ "We have a good field of view because "They have directly helped our unit in the we fly at a pretty high altitude," said Sgt. past," said Mui. Travis Nunn, a Siloam Springs, Ark., native "If they need us, we are there," said COMMANDING GENERAL: Maj. Gen. Robert L. Caslen, Jr. CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Sgt. Jeremy Pitcher; PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER: Lt. Col. David P. Doherty Spc. Jazz Burney; Pfc. Justin Naylor; Pfc. Sharla Perrin PUBLIC AFFAIRS NCOIC: Master Sgt. Michael Wetzel Pfc. Jared Sollars LAYOUT, DESIGN AND EDITING: Maj. Patrick J. O. Husted Contact the Lightning Weekly at SVOIP: 770-0314 or email at [email protected]. The Lightning Weekly is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. Army . Contents of the Lightning Weekly are not necessarily official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, Department of the Army, or Task Force Lightning / Multi-National Division – North. All editorial content of this publication is prepared, edited, provided and approved by the Task Force Lightning Public Affairs Office. Tropic Lightning! PAGE 3 MAY 4, 2009 Iraq's Leading Greywolf Supports Strengths Combine Forces in Ninewah Sexual Assault Awareness Month Province STORY and PHOTOS BY Month is to raise public awareness about Pfc. Sharla Perrin sexual violence and to educate communities 3rd HBCT, 1st CAV Public Affairs Office and individuals on how to prevent sexual violence. FORWARD OPERATING BASE MAREZ, "By pooling our resources, we can MOSUL, Iraq – An open invitation four-mile highlight sexual violence as a major issue run in observance of Sexual Assault through activities like the 4-miler. Drawing Awareness Month was held by the 3rd attention to the problem will reinforce the Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry need for preventive measures and efforts," Division Equal Opportunity Team, April 24 on said Sgt. 1st Class Cadonna Odom, the Forward Operating Base Marez in Iraq. Greywolf Equal Opportunity Advisor. The goal of Sexual Assault Awareness ___________________________________ A group of girls are gathered in the shade as they watch workers at the Al Shaheed Hassan school in Muhallabiyah, Iraq. STORY and PHOTO BY Pfc. Sharla Perrin 3rd HBCT, 1st CAV Public Affairs Office MOSUL, Iraq – A compound with two small buildings was encircled by an earthen wall, hot under the mid-morning sun. Within the enclosure, groups of girls wearing colorful scarves, were gathered in the shade, observing the goings-on around them. This primary school was reopened for classes on April 22 with help from the local government and Iraqi police, Iraqi Army and Coalition force units. The Al Shaheed Hassan school in Muhallabiyah, Iraq reopened after its renovation was organized with joint efforts from Abdul Rakman, the mayor of Muhallabiyah, the Muhallabiyah Iraqi police, the 1st Battalion, 9th Brigade, 3rd Iraqi Army Soldiers race each other in a sprint towards A crowd is gathered at the Forward Division, and C Troop, 6th Squadron, 9th the finish of a four-mile run in support of Operating Base Marez gym April 24 awaiting Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Sexual Assault Awareness Month April 24. the start of a four-mile run in support of Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. The run was organized and sponsored by Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
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