Aviation Soldiers roll outside the wire

Photo By Staff Sgt. Bryanna Poulin | A group of Iraqi children from a nearby Tikrit neighborhood follow Wolverine Quick Reaction Force Soldiers, from 209th Aviation Support Battalion, during a recent mission May 12.  

TIKRIT, IRAQ

05.14.2007

Story by Staff Sgt. Bryanna Poulin 

25th Combat Aviation Brigade

By Spc. Bryanna Poulin
25th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs

TIKRIT, Iraq -- For the majority of Soldiers in an aviation brigade, the primary mission revolves around supporting aircraft. However, for a group of Soldiers with 209th Aviation Support Battalion, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade at Contingency Operating Base Speicher, they sometimes have a wide array of roles that have nothing to do with aviation operations.

"Although we are 25th CAB Soldiers, dealing with aircraft is just a small facet in what the Wolverines do," said Sgt. Chris Attkisson, with QRF Team Two and also on his 5th deployment. "We all have different Military Occupational Specialties (MOS) that aren't mission specific to aviation operations ... Soldiers were put together to form a QRF."

Officially known as the Wolverine's quick reaction force, the two teams have a myriad of skills and have come together to be able to perform every role within QRF.

"Every Wolverine can perform each task within the QRF team," Attkisson said. "One day I may be a gunner...the next day I am a driver, it really just depends on the mission."

QRF is a mixture of Soldiers who are experts in their field, bringing together seasoned deployed Soldiers along with newer Soldiers to make a complete team.

"For Soldiers who are deployed for the first time, it allows them to learn something new and become better leaders in the future," noted Spc. Adam Hawn, a Wolverine Soldier with 209th ASB who is on his third deployment. "Merging experienced Soldiers with first time deployers helps create a well rounded team."
The Wolverines' primary mission is to control situations involving security-related issues. The team reacts to anything from small arms fire to a downed Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV),

"If there is a BOLO mission (be on the look out for a suspicious vehicle) we wait for the vehicle and detain the passengers," Attkission said. "The missions change and we perform whatever the operation dictates."

Armed with previous deployment experience, MOS schooling and hands-on training, the Wolverines face many challenges within their QRF duties. From language barriers with the Iraqi populace to children swarming the vehicles and asking for anything the Soldiers can give them, the Wolverines maintain tactical fortitude even in the harshest situations.

"When we go outside the perimeter, we understand the enemy shows no mercy to coalition forces," Attkission said.

"It's a risk for (Iraqi police) to be doing what they are doing because some Iraqi people look at them as traders," Attkission continued." Yet, they know by standing up against anti-Iraqi forces they are doing a greater good for their country."

A slow but sure effort, Attkission believes Iraqi's are stepping up and taking the lead to becoming a more independent country, without the assistance of Coalition Forces.

"In the last three years alone, I have witnessed the Iraqi's not having anything to do with coalition forces, to now having an established alliance ... small children even come up to (U.S.) Soldiers," Attkission said smiling.

"Wolverines are around-the-clock security for the COB," Hawn concluded. "25th CAB is complete and we provide security for the air and ground."

• Date Taken: 05.14.2007
• Date Posted: 05.31.2007 13:30
• Story ID: 10608
• Location: TIKRIT, IQ