Task Force Arrowhead assumes mission from the Bowie Team

Photo By Staff Sgt. Jason Kendrick | Master Sgt. John Doss presents the Bowie colors to Col. Kendall Penn, commander of the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. The 39th IBCT's colors flew over the Base Defense Operations Center on Camp Victory for more than eight months prior to the transfer of authority ceremony with the 56th IBCT on Dec. 1.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

12.02.2008

Story by Staff Sgt. Jason Kendrick 

Multi-National Division Baghdad

By Staff Sgt. Jason Kendrick
56th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 36th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Iraq – What began in June as an insurmountable hill of training for the Texas Guardsmen of the 56th Infantry Brigade Combat Team has now come to an end as they close one chapter to their story and begin anew. As of Dec. 1, the 'Arrowhead Brigade' Soldiers have taken responsibility for several missions from the 'Bowie Brigade' of the Arkansas National Guard across Iraq.

The transfer of authority ceremony marked the end of mission for the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and the beginning for the Texans of the 56th Brigade. For more than 50 percent of the Arrowhead Soldiers, it marks their second deployment to Iraq. The 56th deployed to Iraq in 2005 and performed many of the same missions it now faces. The 'Arrowhead' Brigade will conduct convoy security and force protection missions.

The Convoy Security mission is vital to the overall success of the coalition. The primary function of the mission is to ensure the timely delivery of needed supplies. The Arrowhead Soldiers conducting these missions work out of Al Asad in the Al Anbar province and Tallil in southern Iraq. These convoy operations cover up to 700 miles per round trip and can be upwards of 50 miles in length.

Leaders face challenges during any mission, said Lt. Col. Christopher Link, 56th Brigade operations officer. A mission that arrays your forces across 50 miles of roadway in a combat zone pushes even these tough Texans to test their limits. For two weeks leading up to Dec. 1, the 'Arrowhead' Brigade and the 'Bowie' Brigade have conducted a left seat/right seat ride or relief in place. This allows Soldiers to watch their counterparts conduct the mission so that they can observe and learn what it takes to be successful. After a week, the incoming and outgoing units trade places and allow the new Soldiers to conduct the missions with the outgoing Soldiers providing guidance and feedback as they observe.

The training received during post-mobilization and during the relief in place set the Texas Guardsmen up for success and enabled them to assume this critical mission with the highest levels of confidence, said Link.

"Every single widget we use, from a slice of bread at chow to the fuel that runs our generators, is brought in by ground convoy and Texan Soldiers are the ones protecting it. The convoys run from out west in Jordan all the way to Baghdad and south towards Kuwait, covering about two thirds of the country," said Link.

The force protection mission is multifaceted. It includes gate guards who are responsible for checking vehicles, personnel and their belongings prior to their access to the various bases.

"Our mission is more than just perimeter security; it is also controlling access to the Victory Base Compound and the relationships that our battalions have with the townships near our entry control points and towers," said Col. Lee Henry, commander of the 56th Brigade.

The force protection mission also involves perimeter security, which includes the manning of towers and patrols in and outside of the base. The mission being taken over by the brigade headquarters is the defense of Victory Base Complex. Its primary function is to secure and protect up to 70,000 Soldiers and contractors that live and work on the Victory Base Complex in Baghdad. The Arrowhead Brigade is ultimately responsible for the manning of the guard towers, entry control points, and who is granted access to Victory Base.

The Texas Guardsmen will also be leading three active component battalions that will have the responsibility to secure specific portions of Victory Base as well as the continuing development of positive relationships with Iraqis who live around the base.

• Date Taken: 12.02.2008
• Date Posted: 12.02.2008 05:09
• Story ID: 27069
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ