Photo By Sgt. 1st Class David Edge | Soldiers from Assassin Troop, 3rd Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 10th...... read more read more
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FORT POLK, La. - On a cool crisp sunny day, a military convoy moves slowly through a forest. The soldiers seem to be slightly on edge. The woods around them are quiet, to quiet for their liking. The soldiers in their turrets are looking around nervously, the convoy rolls on.
Suddenly, the peace of the forest is shattered. There is a high pitched tat, tat, tat as a machine gun barks to life at the front of the convoy. The woods come alive, as soldiers quickly engage an enemy that was once hidden.
That was the scene Tuesday as soldiers from Assassin Troop, 3rd Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 10thMountain Division conducted a training mission at one of Fort Polk’s many training sites.
The mission that the Assassins carried out, was routine, but very important.
“Today’s mission was to escort the Security Forces Advise and assist Team [SFAAT] to the Afghan Army compound so that they could work with the Afghans,” said Spc. Stephen McDaid, a Combat Medic with 3rd platoon, Assassin Troop, 3rd Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 10th Mountain Division.
The job the SFAAT is to work with their Afghan counterparts to improve their logistics, intelligence, maintenance, administration, rule of law, and training capabilities.
The day’s mission would not have gone so well without prior planning from Assassin Troop.
“We did an operations order brief to my platoon, we had to incorporate a rout clearance package, because we had engineers attached to us. With, that and coordinating with the SFAAT, there were a lot more moving pieces than we are used to dealing with,” said 1st Lt. John Mahood, platoon leader for 3rd platoon, Assassin Troop, 3rd Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 10thMountain Division. “We moved out in a formation that was nearly twice the size of my regular platoon.”
The Patriot Brigade training was not only informative but realistic for the soldiers.
“Having deployed before, this is the most realistic deployment oriented mission that I have participated in, most mission that I have been a part of have been geared towards scout activities , but route clearance is a very important part of what we do,” said McDaid.
Over the next few weeks the Patriot Brigade will continue to train on route clearance and other specialized missions. The Patriot Brigade will continue to ensure that its soldiers are ready and able to face the many obstacles that the future holds. The object of their training missions is quite simple, to keep its soldiers harden and battle ready for whatever real world mission come the Patriot Brigade’s way.
| Date Taken: | 02.26.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 03.05.2013 18:38 |
| Story ID: | 102963 |
| Location: | FORT POLK, LA, US |
| Web Views: | 681 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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