Texas Guardsmen execute non-standard missions

Photo By Staff Sgt. Jason Kendrick | Master Sgt. Penny Patrick, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 56th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, checks an exception to policy request on Dec. 13. Patrick works with multiple agencies to make sure that corps policy is enforced.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

12.15.2008

Story by Staff Sgt. Jason Kendrick 

Multi-National Division Baghdad

By Staff Sgt. Jason Kendrick
Multi-National Division – Baghdad

BAGHDAD – Arrowhead Soldiers of the 56th Infantry Brigade Combat Team execute a variety of missions throughout the country of Iraq. Many of the missions executed can be described as 'non-standard,' meaning work outside of their military occupational specialty.

"This is the first time I have worked in a non-standard job. It is different and everything is non-doctrinal and requires a lot of thinking outside of the box. You cannot find the answer in a Field Manual or Army Regulation," said Maj. Robert Criffield, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 56th IBCT, Multi-National Division – Baghdad.

Criffield supervises the day-to-day operations of the Access Control Office. Their function is to validate any civilian personnel wishing to gain access to the Victory Base Complex. The process by which they accomplish this is lengthy and thorough. It has multiple quality checks to ensure that all documentation is accurate and complete.

"By the time a packet gets to me it has been checked at least three times for accuracy and that it is complete. I do the last quality control check to make sure that everything is right before sending it out for final processing," Criffield explained.

The work towards granting personnel access to Victory Base does not start and end with access control. The Force Protection office has some serious play as well. Master Sgt. Penny Patrick works in the Force Protection cell as the policy non-commissioned officer with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 56th IBCT, Multi-National Division – Baghdad. Patrick's military occupational specialty is in the maintenance field; turning wrenches. Sitting behind a desk and reviewing corps policy is not how he envisioned his deployment, but he understands the importance of the job he is doing.

"As the policy NCO, I handle anyone that comes in wanting an exception to policy. The policy is in place for a reason, so I have to carefully review any request for an exception," said Patrick.

The corps policy lists several prohibited items personnel coming onto the base are not allowed to posses while on Camp Victory. However, sometimes those items might be necessary for them to do their job.

"One of the most common exception requests I see are for items on the prohibited items list. For example, if a tape measure was prohibited, a carpenter working on a building or something where he needed the tape measure would need to get the exception to policy," Patrick explained.

• Date Taken: 12.15.2008
• Date Posted: 12.15.2008 13:54
• Story ID: 27713
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ