Causes and 'effects' of Ironhorse countermeasures

Photo By Spc. Douglas York | Pfc. Derrick Carr, a native of Toledo, Ohio, who serves as an Advanced Field Artillery...... read more read more

Photo By Spc. Douglas York | Pfc. Derrick Carr, a native of Toledo, Ohio, who serves as an Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System operator as well as a radio transmission operator with the Fire and Effects Cell, 4th Infantry Division and Multi-National Division-Baghdad, reads over information about a radar acquisition picked up Aug. 26, 2008.  see less | View Image Page

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

08.30.2008

Story by Spc. Douglas York 

Multi-National Division Baghdad

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By Spc. Douglas York
Multi-National Division-Baghdad Public Affairs Office

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – Throughout the Army's history, there have been mottos, creeds, motivational stories, acts of bravery and selflessness, as well as acts of remembrance. In terms of the latter, the members of the "Steadfast and Loyal" 4th Infantry Division's Fire and Effects Cell are no different.

The FEC, a collection of forward observers, targeting officers, cannon crew-members, and intelligence personnel, overcame a tragedy of their own early in the division's current deployment, making them stronger as a team and even more dedicated to the vital role of pouring "steel rain" and hell down on the heads of the enemy who target coalition forces.

"A little before New Years, we lost one of our Soldiers [Pfc. Joseph Berlin], said Staff Sgt. Glenn Butler, a native of Mililani, Hawaii, who serves as one of the battle non-commissioned officers in the FEC, 4th Inf. Div. and Multi-National Division-Baghdad. "We're actually down two guys, as we lost one of our other guys [Pfc. Rene Medina] in Kuwait due to an illness," he added.

The remaining members of the FEC, led by Lt. Col. James Vizzard, of Alexandria, Va., who serves as the FEC's chief of targeting, continue the section's mission of handling and gathering intelligence, tracking indirect fire attacks, and disseminating that information down to the division's subordinate units. However, the memories of their buddies linger on.

"It's a family atmosphere," Butler said. "We're deploying with these guys, we're training with them for a full year and to not have them around is really like losing a little brother," he added.

The tragedy, the expertise of their leaders, and their collective training have brought the unit closer together, making them very successful in the overall effect they have had in making their peers and Iraqi civilians more safe.

"We oversee a group of Soldiers who operate and monitor the Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System, the Radio Transmission Operator and the Counter-Fire Officer," said Sgt. 1st Class Geoffrey Epler, a native of Aurora, Co., who serves as the FEC's platoon sergeant. "We monitor all of the radar tracks that come in from any MND-B area of operations," he added.

"Any time there's an IDF event we answer all of the five "Ws" (who, what, where, when and why) and keep the chain of command informed," said Sgt. 1st Class Robert Schutz, a native of Copperas Cove, Texas, who serves as a FEC non-commissioned officer and is the Ironhorse Division's digital master gunner. "We also assist the brigades with deconfliction of airspace for counter-fire, but our primary mission is to provide the division chain of command with an accurate picture of what's going on in the battlefield as it relates to IDF," he added.

Working in the Command Information Center amongst the division's various battle captains, looking at computer monitors and screens, the FEC works tirelessly to track special groups criminals, terrorists and extremists.

Working no less than eight hour shifts, the FEC crews endlessly and willingly stare at monitors and radars, tracking around 600-800 radar acquisitions a day, watching every move in the area, trying to differentiate between real attacks and false alarms.

Adding to the difficulties of deciding what is real and what is not, are the hard-to-predict activities of the criminals who are trying to undermine the country's overall success in its push toward security.

"You don't always know when [the enemy's] going to strike. You always have to keep on the top of your toes and wait for that next mission to happen," said Warrant Officer 1 Chris Meekins, a native of Preston, Md., who serves as one of the CFOs in the FEC. "We're watching 24/7 for the enemy to strike and the enemy knows that too. They've not been too successful at firing at us [lately] because we come right back at them," he added, making special note of the division's success since early spring.

During March, the division went through a period which is known to the FEC cell as "March Madness." The FEC crews were tracking and responding daily to multiple attacks coming from the Sadr City district of Baghdad. Through the diligence and efforts of all the FEC's assets, the division was able to snuff the bad guys out and put an end to the "madness."

"We started to see a pattern and put air assets in the area," said Epler, elaborating that their efforts allowed for quick counter-attacks, which eventually stopped the criminals dead in their tracks.

According to Schutz, Epler, Butler and the other leaders of the FEC, their efforts and hard work have not gone unnoticed by their peers.

"I think the division has done a really good job with certain things, like 'Player of the Day.' In fact, I believe that all of our Soldiers have got to partake in that," Butler said.

Regardless of whether or not outside praise ever came for his troops, they would remain a close knit family, said Butler.

"If you go up to our battle NCO station, you'll see a picture of some of us [including the two soldiers they lost] together at the baggage drop a couple of days before the deployment," Butler said. "Everybody's smiling; we trained hard and guys were ready to go ahead and knock out the 15 months together. [The photo] is fading slightly from being on that work station for nine months already, but it will make it all the way to the last day of the deployment and we'll take it home with us," he added.

Though the picture may fade, the memory of their pals and their brothers will continue, as well as their confidence in each other.

"They're the best. I've got the best section in the Army," Schutz said. "There can't be a battledrill done, as far as IDF goes, if it wasn't for those guys sitting in front of those screens letting us know something is going on," he added.

Chief Warrant Officer 4 James Quick, a native of Bennettsville, S.C., who serves as one of the FEC's targeting officers, was quick to agree.

"I think we have some of the most competent, most brilliant and hard-working leaders and Soldiers in the Army. They have stepped up to the challenges. They've performed without any reservations, constantly going in and out of the wire, protecting the force by trying to locate the enemy."

While their enemy may at times be elusive, the cause of this group remains true. Like the motto of their division, they remain "Steadfast and Loyal" to their mission, to their fellow soldiers, to their families and to their team. The resulting 'effect' is a group of Soldiers anybody in the Army would be proud to serve with.