Ironhorse Big 8 equals mission success for 'Packhorse' Soldiers

Courtesy Photo | Sgt. Paul Royar, a light-wheeled mechanic from Nashua, N.H., assigned to Company B., 4th Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, instructs Spc. Bobbie Wyble, from Amarillo, Texas, and Spc. Steven Taylor, from Bakersfield, Ca., light-wheeled vehicle mechanics assigned to Co. B., 4th Supt. Bn., on how to properly conduct preventive maintenance, checks and services on the mine resistant ambush protected vehicle. The Soldiers from Co. B are assigned to the Convoy Escort Platoon of Co. A, responsible for executing combat logistics patrols for the Soldiers of the Packhorse Bn. and the Raider BCT, operating at Combat Outposts and Joint Security Stations throughout the Rashid District of Southern Baghdad. (U.S. Army photo/1st Lt. Adam Moore)  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

05.09.2008

Courtesy Story

1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

By 1st Lt. Adam Moore
1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq – The Convoy Escort Platoon of Company A, 4th Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, is a unique element that executes all of the 1st "Raider" BCT's combat support missions outside of Forward Operating Base Falcon.

Deployed for a 15-month tour in support of Multi-National Division – Baghdad and Operation Iraqi Freedom, the platoon of Soldiers cannot be found on any Modified Table of Organization and Equipment because it was formed by Soldiers from each company within the battalion – Soldiers who contribute their special skills to ensure mission success.

A key element for the leaders of the platoon was ensuring their Soldiers follow the appropriate steps to maximize the safety of their troops while out on mission.

"First, last and always, security is what protects you from the enemy, and there is more to it than having 360 degrees established," said Staff Sgt. Johnnie Martinez, a motor transport operator from Okeechobee, Fla., assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Supt. Bn. "It is imperative that you understand your enemy and all the threats and where they occur in your operating environment."

Fundamental to every operation the platoon conducts is the Ironhorse Big 8, which consists of operations orders, graphics, pre-combat checks and inspections, rehearsals, security, reconnaissance, time management and risk management.

Every mission begins with an operations order. The platoon leader or platoon sergeant work in coordination with the battalion intelligence and operations personnel to prepare an executable mission that integrates the enemy situation into all planning considerations.

Once the battalion commander approves the plan, the order is then issued to the Soldiers; thorough back-briefs are conducted to ensure each Soldier understands all aspects of the operation.

"Our rehearsals are intense," said Spc. John Brewer, a native of Tallulah, La., and a petroleum supply specialist assigned to Company A, 4th Supt. Bn. "They are situational training exercises that allow us to perform our actions on the objective prior to execution."

Pre-combat checks and inspections are the focus of the platoon's preparation. Every Soldier and vehicle is checked, rechecked and checked again.

"If a piece of equipment fails or is over-looked, then it is a failure at the squad, platoon, company and battalion level because they are all involved in the pre-combat inspection process," said Capt. John Friel, commander of Co. A, 4th Supt. Bn., who hails from Warrensburg, Mo.

Graphics play an important role in the platoon's operations. Graphics are issued prior to every mission to provide a visual aid on the enemy and civilian situations, to include historical and predictive threat locations. Also included are primary, alternate, evacuation routes and overlays of all battle space owners.

"The graphics are a great tool that helps bring the mission to life prior to execution," said Sgt. Paul Royar, a native of Alba, Texas, and a light-wheeled vehicle mechanic assigned to Co. B, 4th Supt. Bn. "It makes it easer to conceptualize the mission if you have materials to reference after the briefing."

Integrated into every operation is a security plan. The patrol leader, with the assistance of the battalion's military intelligence team, conducts engagement area development and thorough enemy analysis to determine what considerations must be taken. Different movement formations and techniques are used to counteract potential enemy threats.

"Our primary mission is not to seek and destroy the enemy; however, if we can provide actionable intelligence to the maneuver guys in their battle space, then it's a big bonus," said Spc. Dexter Clingan, a petroleum supply specialist from Halleyville, Ala., assigned to Co. A, 4th Supt. Bn. "We get updates from (intelligence) on what activity to look for in specific areas, and we serve as an extra set of eyes and ears on the ground."

The final step to the Ironhorse Big 8 is composite risk management. No operation takes place without a completed risk assessment and risk brief. Control measures are developed, disseminated and continuously refined. Updates are based on the tactical situation as it develops, and accidental risk is continuously evaluated and mitigated.

"I never want to be the leader whose Soldier gets injured due to my negligence or lack of prevention," said Sgt. 1st Class Jesus Mora, senior wheeled vehicle mechanic and platoon sergeant of the convoy escort platoon, who hails from Corpus Christi, Texas, and is assigned to Co. B. "Our Soldiers are too valuable and too important not to take the proper steps to ensure their safety."

The platoon's leaders ensure these standards are adhered to at all times, and the Soldiers are always prepared to execute the mission, said Mora.

• Date Taken: 05.09.2008
• Date Posted: 05.09.2008 11:29
• Story ID: 19267
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ