Infantry Soldiers support Iraqi Army checkpoints near Sadr City

Courtesy Photo | Pfc. Michael Webb, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Soldier from New Castle, Va., inspects a pickup truck with an Iraqi army soldier at a checkpoint near the Sadr City District of Baghdad, Sept. 22, 2008.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

09.22.2008

Courtesy Story

4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Public Affairs

By 1st Lt. John Knittel
4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division

FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq – Along the northeast corner of Sadr City in eastern Baghdad, there is an essential checkpoint that Iraqi army soldiers man around the clock.

Sept. 22, 2008, Soldiers from Company A, 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment assisted the IA at the checkpoint. This is a decisive location, because it is one of only a few access points area residents use to get into or out of Sadr City.

The IA soldiers who man the CP overwatch the area from a large tower with a 360-degree view. Soldiers on the ground search passing vehicles and pedestrians for such things as identification, weapons, rockets and improvised-explosive device making materials. The Co. A. 2nd Bn. 30th Inf. Soldiers, part of 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light), assist their IA partners at the CP daily. These U.S. Soldiers provide support through vehicle searches and with any other security issues that might arise.

"We have a list of [suspicious] vehicles [we check when conducting inspections]," explained Staff Sgt. Donald Wade, a Conroe, Texas native and squad leader for the patrol, Sept. 22, 2008. "Of the vehicles on the list, we search all those ... thoroughly."

Pfc. Jose Vera from Corpus Christi, Texas also was on the ground helping at the checkpoint that day. "I enjoy working with the Iraqi army soldiers. They are a lot of fun to work with," Vera commented. "I know by spot checking them that they will get better at their jobs and take the lead here in Iraq."

• Date Taken: 09.22.2008
• Date Posted: 09.28.2008 08:47
• Story ID: 24238
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ