Crazy Troop gains new home at Forward Operating Base Minden

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Carlos Burger | Sgt. Chris Tetreault, C Troop, 1-10 Cavalry Regiment, puts on his gear before conducting a border patrol on Forward Operating Base Minden, May 12.  

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MINDEN, IRAQ

05.23.2009

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Carlos Burger 

2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MINDEN, Iraq — Recently, the Soldiers of 'Crazy' Troop, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, relocated to their new home, Forward Operating Base Minden in Basra province.

The troop will have the opportunity to work with the Border Transition Team, which assesses border security, and the Port of Entry Transition Team who provides security to the port located near FOB Minden.

"The Crazy troop Soldiers' mission is to provide security to the BTT and the POETT teams," said 1st Sgt. Rob Ferguson, C Troop first sergeant.

In addition, C Troop provides life support areas for not only themselves, but for the BTT and POETT as well. FOB Minden accommodates all these needs with air-conditioned, hard-floored tents, a dining facility, a morale, welfare and recreation tent and a gym facility.

For the Soldiers of C troop, they have lived on small, outlying patrol bases for most of their deployment.

"Everywhere we have gone, we have had to build or improve a patrol base in order to partner with our Iraqi security forces," said 1st. Lt. Andrew Prunty, fire support officer for Crazy troop.

Although the FOB doesn't have some of the luxuries of some other camps, the Soldiers here are happy with the facilities that are now available.

"Since we got here, there has been a lot of expansion on what the British troops left us," said Staff Sgt. Javier Antonsanti, C Troop chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear non-commissioned officer.

Antonsanti added that plans are in place to continue to make FOB Minden comfortable for all living there.

"We are working hard on improving quality of life for all Soldiers," Antonsanti said.

"Life here is much better than you would expect. [Outlying areas] can be as nice as any FOB, all it really takes is a little hard work to make them as nice as possible," added Cpl. Nicholas Long, a cavalryman in the troop.

"Overall, I wouldn't trade any of the experiences I have had this year for anything," Long continued.

• Date Taken: 05.23.2009
• Date Posted: 05.23.2009 03:02
• Story ID: 34000
• Location: FORWARD OPERATING BASE MINDEN, IQ