Multi-National Division – Baghdad “First Team.....Team First” Friday, October 9, 2009 Incoming Soldiers learn features of MRAP By Spc. Howard Alperin “I’m pretty excited about get- how you do your egress from the rors and utilize them. You’ve got MND-B PAO ting on the road. I want to get vehicle in case of emergency. “It’s to make sure you can see around BAGHDAD — Soldiers re- my license so I can go outside practice for when you’re outside your vehicle.” ceived hands-on training on an the wire and support everybody doing the real thing. That way, “You have to watch for the MRAP vehicle. During the 40 through re-supply missions,” said when something happens, we’re edges of the shoulder and look for hours of instructional time, they James. able to perform better and possi- potholes or anything that might learn how to perform preventative In order to learn how to oper- bly save lives.” cause the vehicle to rock because maintenance checks and services, ate these vehicles, Soldiers must Soldiers take what they are this multiplies the possibility of a recognize warnings, cautions and get to know their characteristics. taught about the vehicle’s physi- rollover. The vehicle is top-heavy. controls of the vehicle, egress and “We went over all the controls cal features and capabilities, and In making turns, you have to be roll-over drills, operate the gun- and control panel,” said Spc. apply it to daytime and night-time cautious.” ner’s point kit, ground-guide pro- Josh Overton, a personal security drives. During the two days of driving, cedures, and day and night-time detachment team member, from “For someone who is used to Soldiers learn to drive safely on a driving. West Liberty, Ohio. “Also, we humvees, it’s a step up regarding variety of surfaces and grades. “The vehicle will take care of went over switches for the AC, space, equipment and gadgets,” “They take you through dif- you, but respect the vehicle,” de- heat, power doors, and how to said Spc. Mike Demma, an elec- ferent terrain features to become clared Frank Davis, the civilian properly open and close the doors trician from Traverse City, Mich., familiarized and comfortable with instructor at the Regional Support without making them malfunc- who recently completed the driv- the vehicles,” said Demma. After Area on Camp Liberty, to Sol- tion.” ing portion and test for the class. graduating the class, Soldiers are diers attending the Operators New The Soldiers learned how to “There are quite a few blind spots. able to use their knowledge in the Equipment Training class. properly control the MRAPs and It’s important to readjust your mir- role of train the trainer. These knowledgeable instruc- tors don’t hold back when guiding their students. It’s their job to train Soldiers to standard so when they are out on mission they know how to use their MRAP vehicle safely. “We learned that the seatbelts are a five-point harness, that the windows are able to withstand a .50 cal [round], how to get in and out of the hatches, the driver’s control, how to turn the vehicle on and off, releasing and apply- ing the brakes, and making sure things are locked up when we’re done,” said Spc. Chase James, from Newark, Del. As supply and logistics spe- cialists, these Soldiers of the 702nd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division will travel often to forward operating bases in the Baghdad area. Many of the Sol- Photo by Spc. Howard Alperin diers taking the class have recently Soldiers gather under the belly of a Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected vehicle, here, arrived in country and most have Oct. 6, as Frank Davis, from Killeen, Texas, points out different parts and how the never driven an MRAP vehicle. vehicle is protected with armor against improvised explosive devices. PAGE 2 October 9, 2009 Knock, talk mission with Iraqi Army Photos by Sgt. Jon Soles, MND-B PAO TAJI, Iraq – Spc. Marcus Jeter, of Atlanta, walks through a sunflower field near Taji, Oct. 5, during a joint patrol with the Iraqi Army. Sgt. Jhonny Beldor, an artilleryman from Fredericksburg, Pa., searches for weapons during a joint patrol with the Iraqi Army in the Taji area. Staff Sgt. William Cannon (left), of Taylor, Mich., and Sgt. Jhonny Beldor, of Fredericksburg, Pa., confer about directions during a patrol near Taji Oct. 5. Both non-commissioned officers are artillerymen assigned Staff Sgt. Shad Fowler, of Amarillo, Texas, looks in- to Company A, 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Reg- side a barrel while searching through a garbage pile iment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Divi- on a joint patrol with the Iraqi Army . sion PAGE 3 October 9, 2009 Maintaining SoI security north of Baghdad By Spc. Kelly LeCompte Rossa, from Pueblo, Colo. “It’s 30th HBCT PAO great because it keeps you flying CAMP TAJI, Iraq — Un- all the time. It ensures all the bri- manned aerial systems opera- gades can have more coverage.” tions are keeping Soldiers in the “We service the birds, and we Baghdad area safe thanks to co- launch them,” said Sgt. Conrad operation between four different Jahn, a maintenance shift lead brigades that have centered opera- with B Co. “We launch them and tions, here, north of Baghdad. then we’ll hand them off to a con- “The launch and recovery site trol site that’s forward, so that the for all of [Multi-National Divi- actual mission flying is done from sion] Baghdad is at Camp Taji,” the forward sites.” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Dar- “I think it works really well,” ryl Della Rossa, the UAS officer said Jahn. “We have a really good Photo by Spc. Kelly LeCompte with the 86th Military Intelligence team here and we’re able to sup- Sgt. David Gomez, from Brooklyn, N.Y., prepares an un- Company B. “By consolidating, port each other… and we pool manned aerial system for launch at Camp Taji, north of they can support four brigades in a lot more experience this way. Baghdad, Oct 5. one place.” Our standard of maintenance is The four U.S. brigades have a lot higher and our production is serving in Iraq since April and has there would be days at the time pooled their UAVs at Camp Taji’s a lot better because we have such logged 2,500 flight hours so far; when operations would have to airfield, along with the main- a large pool of materials and tal- all accident free. stop for maintenance on the vehi- tenance personnel who launch ent and experience. It’s a really “That’s more than some com- cles or for crew rest, and it would and recovery the vehicles; while good team. We’re like a big fam- panies fly in a whole year deploy- be unlikely to fly so many hours the vehicle operators are located ily here.” ment,” Della Rossa said. have they have so far, especially wherever their respective units Della Rossa, who works from The Soldiers in B Co., whether without incident. work from. Forward Operating Base Falcon, serving at Camp Taji or FOB Fal- “It’s a great system,” Della “The units share the birds, where Company B’s operators con, work 12 hour days, seven Rossa said. “Since a bird is al- hanger space, personnel; it can all are, said he agreed the system days a week. Della Rossa said ways in the air, we can be always be shared at one place,” said Della works. The MI company has been without the system at Camp Taji, ready.” Sheikh council meeting brings resolve By Pfc. Kimberly Hackbarth it is now. He pointed out that “That’s ultimately part of our violence still existed in their ar- 4th SBCT PAO, things are safer and more stable strategy of irreversible momen- eas was because people would BAGHDAD — U.S. and all over Baghdad, largely due tum: to be able to ensure that not come forward with tips. Iraqi commanders, along with to actions such as patrols and the people trust the Iraqi Army Overall, the meeting broke prominent members of the Abu warrant-issued arrests made by and the Iraqi Army support the new ground for all members Ghraib community, met Oct. 3 the IA and Iraqi police. people.” involved by repairing the part- to discuss security gains as well “Every day is getting bet- Security was not the only is- nership between the IA and the as rebuilding dialogue in this ter,” Yaser said. sue brought up at the meeting. council member and allowing western community of Bagh- Yaser’s presence at the Internally displaced persons them to work together to try to dad. meeting opened ways of com- are a growing concern for the make the area a safer place for Col. John Norris, command- munication between the IA and Abu Ghraib council members. the citizens. er of 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry the council members by allow- Yaser reassured the council “Just (Yaser’s) presence and Division, suggested a represen- ing the two groups to share members the Iraqi forces look his willingness to receive the tative from 24th Bde., 6th IA thoughts and opinions on issues to help the IDPs and want those information and the concern to Div. attend the council meeting in the area with little input from people to live in peace with the discuss security-related issues to help bridge the communica- Norris. rest of the populace. and the issues within the com- tion gap between Abu Ghraib “The Iraqi Army could re- One of the final topics dis- munities with the sheikhs was sheikhs and the Iraqi Army ceive their concerns about cussed in the meeting was the a big victory for us in terms of since a recent rift.