MND-B route-clearance Soldier leads from front

Courtesy Photo | Spc. Adam Rife, a San Luis Obispo, Calif., native, leans on the back of his platoon's...... read more read more

Courtesy Photo | Spc. Adam Rife, a San Luis Obispo, Calif., native, leans on the back of his platoon's Huskey outside the 68th Engineer Company headquarters at Camp Liberty, April 9. Rife spent five months leading his platoon in the one-man vehicle during route-clearance patrols and helped search for improvised explosive devices on the streets of Baghdad. He serves with the 3rd Platoon, 84th Eng. Co., 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Multi-National Division – Baghdad. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. April Campbell)  see less | View Image Page

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

04.11.2008

Courtesy Story

Multi-National Division Baghdad

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By Pfc. April Campbell
Multi-National Division - Baghdad

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – When Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers conduct missions out in sector, they pay close attention, watching and searching for signs of improvised explosive devices.

Soldiers conducting route-clearance patrols have one primary mission when going outside the wire: to search for and help rid the streets of IEDs; they help ease the burden and provide extra security for those who follow in their paths later that day.

When platoons conduct such missions, a single Soldier drives a one man vehicle known as a Huskey in front of the convoy. These drivers must recognize and react appropriately when they see IEDs – risking their own lives to protect the Soldiers behind them.

One Soldier who took on this mission was Spc. Adam Rife, who serves as a Huskey driver with the 3rd Platoon, 84th Engineer Company, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Multi-National Division – Baghdad.

Rife, who volunteered to continue driving the vehicle after his initial two-month tour was complete, has found six IEDs over the past five months. While his platoon first provided support out of Camp Taji, they now operate out of Camp Liberty.

"I volunteered to drive the vehicle when we were in Taji," said the San Luis Obispo, Calif., native. "I just felt more comfortable being up there where I can see everything."

From his vantage point, Rife acts as a vital and mission-essential set of eyes for his platoon leader, 1st Lt. Eric Schnee, a native of Auburn, Ala., who also serves with the 3rd Pltn., 64th Eng. Co., 2nd SCR.

"There have been numerous occasions where I could not tell anything was there from where I was," said Schnee. "Next thing I know, Rife's on the radio saying 'I have an IED.' I think he's one of the main reasons that we've been so successful."

Rife, who trained in a Stryker vehicle prior to deploying to Iraq, said he received all of his training driving a Huskey after he arrived in Iraq. One of his most important teachers has been experience.

"One of the first two IEDs I found was ... when I was working at Camp Taji," Rife said.

Learning from this find, Rife said he had a better idea of what to look for when he went on route-clearance missions.

"From that point on, I was looking for the human touch – the little details where you can tell that something was done there with intent." he added.

With a key mission of protecting others, driving a Huskey is challenging, both technically and mentally.

Staff Sgt. Roy Freeman, an Astoria, Ore., native, who serves as Rife's squad leader and the acting platoon sergeant with the 3rd Pltn., 84th Eng. Co., 2nd SCR, recognizes the difficulties the Huskey drivers face during their missions.

"With the Huskey, you're out in front of the whole patrol. It's crammed. It's constantly scanning for IEDs," Freeman said. "If you call something out clear, and it turns out to be an IED, then you've got that on your conscience."

"Mentally," added Freeman, "it's probably the hardest job in the patrol."

In spite of the stress it might appear to cause, Rife uses the increased responsibility to motivate him to excel at his position.

"Knowing that everything's at stake – the lives of the Soldiers behind me and those of the patrols that come after us – helps me keep my focus," he said.

Although he recently rotated out of his position as a Huskey driver, Rife, who will be promoted to the rank of sergeant and become a team leader soon, plans to use his experience to help him better lead the Soldiers whom he will be responsible for in the future.

"What I've learned by just being a driver," he said, "(the Soldiers I will lead) can learn before they become drivers themselves. I think you need to know your Soldiers' jobs in order to better lead them."

While not quite yet a non-commissioned officer, Rife continues to be proactive from the Stryker vehicle he now occupies. He passes on his knowledge and assists the new rotation of Soldiers who operate the Huskey in their endeavors to secure the streets of Baghdad.