US and Iraqi soldiers partner to provide safer routes, boost economic potential

Courtesy Photo | A group of U.S. soldiers from 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division measure the width of a road along a potentially new route during the ongoing Operation Road Dog. The newly cleared and classified route could be used by both military and civilian traffic and will likely boost the economic development within southern Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Lucas McWhorter)  

CONTINGENCY OPERATING GARRY OWEN, IRAQ

07.12.2010

Story by Capt. Michael Walter 

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

CONTINGENCY OPERATING GARRY OWEN, Iraq – During the pre-dawn hours of June 12, two platoons from 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division completed their final inspections and rehearsals for a joint route clearance mission. They are partnered with the 10th Iraqi Army Field Engineer Regiment stationed at Joint Security Station Sparrowhawk.

For the next 15 hours these Soldiers conducted the aptly named “Operation Road Dog” with the objective of clearing and classifying a new route between Maysan and Dhi Qar provinces.

Since assuming the advise and assist mission within Maysan Province, Company E, 1st Bn., 8th Inf. Reg. conducts regular route clearance missions, enabling U.S. forces to safely move supplies and personnel along major roadways throughout the province, said 1st. Lt. Ryan Snedegar, platoon leader, 1st Platoon, Company E, from Charleston, W.Va.

The objective of Operation Road Dog is to clear the route, classify all of the culverts and bridges, and carefully assess the quality of the road, to determine its suitability for military traffic.

The mission has implications far beyond the military, however. According to Lt. Col. Trent Hunton, operations officer, 3rd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., this new route will help facilitate greater civilian traffic between the two provinces. Opening a new, safer route will enable the easier flow of goods and increase the economic vitality of southern Iraq.

The Soldiers of the Scout Platoon, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Bn., 8th Inf. Reg., are specifically trained to conduct these tasks, said 1st Lt. Matthew Strohman, scout platoon leader, of Cincinnati, Ohio.

During the mission, Strohman’s Soldiers measure and record various types of data. The width of the road, the length of bridges, water depths and flow rates are just a few measurements that make up a classification assessment.

Together with the Iraqi army engineers, the Soldiers assess the structural capacity of bridges, take measurements of the road and inspect deteriorating culverts. The collected data will assist Soldiers to classify the route and assess how it can be used in the future by both military and Iraqi vehicles, said Strohman.

Additionally, both U.S. and Iraqi forces focus on identifying areas that could be used to emplace improvised explosive devices or other threats. The more of these potentially dangerous areas that are identified, the safer the route will be.

Equally significant to the collection of data are the direct efforts by the Iraqi engineers in assisting with security and facilitating interaction with the local citizens. Gaining an understanding of the people along the route plays an important role in mitigating future security risks, said Capt. Daaron Spears, commander, Company E, of San Antonio, Texas.

One of the key impacts of the partnership between the U.S. platoons and the FER is showing unity of effort to the local population. The FER’s ability to ensure a peaceful mission while allowing the U.S. forces the ability to gain information they needed is good for the people to see, said 2nd Lt. Wsam, of the 10th IA, FER.

The results of Operation Road Dog will directly affect the responsible drawdown of U.S. forces from Iraq. As more equipment continues to funnel out of the country, the demand for safe, passable routes will grow, said Spears.

According to Warrant Officer Salin, 10th IA FER, the engineers assisted in clearing approximately 90 kilometers of two-lane highway and multiple bridges. They also identified additional egresses and parallel routes.

He said he was pleased with the cooperation of U.S. forces, and he was proud to offer his unit’s reconnaissance and engineering skills to help enable a safer route.

• Date Taken: 07.12.2010
• Date Posted: 07.11.2010 08:58
• Story ID: 52670
• Location: CONTINGENCY OPERATING GARRY OWEN, IQ