Guardians of the road

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Anita Stratton | Cpl. James Seets, of Elkton, Ore., an infantryman with Delta Company 1/186 Inf., 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, checks his crew to make sure they are ready to head out on a convoy. The Convoy Escort Team is just one of the CETs attributed to the high mileage accumulated by the Battalion.  

CAMP ADDER, IRAQ

02.12.2010

Story by Spc. Anita Stratton 

41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team

CAMP ADDER, Iraq-- Task Force Guardian 1/186 IN, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, arrived at Camp Adder, Iraq at the end of July 2009. Their mission: convoy security.

The Soldiers escort convoys to the north and west of Camp Adder. They provide theater and corps level support to the Iraqi and third-country national convoy operators.

"Our mission is convoy security," said the Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Greg Day. "That's what we do. We have consistently the highest convoy escort team utilization rate in the brigade."

As the long-haulers for the brigade, the Soldiers escort food and fuel over 5000 miles each week per CET.

"We have the highest miles in the brigade," said Battalion Command Sgt. Major Theodore Santoyo. In only five months the miles travelled by the CETs equaled 14 times around the planet.

With all the miles TF Guardian puts on in a week and the number of trucks they escort, the Soldiers have little time to actually interact with the local nationals. It does not mean their presence goes unnoticed.

"We have a small part as far as interacting with the local nationals," said Command Sgt. Maj. Santoyo. "I know they trust us because they don't leave our side for a minute, especially in the convoy. They know we are protecting them."

Charlie Company conducts a unique mission away from the rest of the task force.
Their mission is convoy security, base administration, force protection and the garrison commandant at Camp Korean Village, 50 miles east of the Jordanian border.

"We were tasked with the overall operations of that FOB [forward operating base], including the Mayor Cell," said Santoyo. "Their task is quite larger than we expected of the company. They are doing a pretty good job."

Charlie Company Soldiers are able to alternate their duties between convoy security and force protection.

Whether it is on a small FOB far away from the rest of the brigade or on the road, the Soldiers of Task Force Guardian are staying upbeat.

"Our Soldiers are positive. They are working at the small unit level and they are busy," said Day. "They are with their crew in their vehicle, out on the road, talking on the radio, seeing stuff, drinking Pepsi, and going to different places. They get to stop at all kinds of FOBs. They are proud of what they do."

• Date Taken: 02.12.2010
• Date Posted: 02.12.2010 02:02
• Story ID: 45241
• Location: CAMP ADDER, IQ