Photo By Staff Sgt. David Strayer | Soldiers of 34th Engineer Company (Sapper), 326th Engineer Battalion, 20th Engineer...... read more read more
CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq – Before conducting route clearance missions from Contingency Operating Base Speicher, combat engineers of the 34th Engineer Company (Sapper), attached to 326th Engineer Battalion, 20th Engineer Brigade, perform pre-combat checks and pre-combat inspections on personal protective equipment and armored route clearance vehicles and practice rollover drills in preparation for the task at hand.
U.S. soldiers of 34th Sapper Company conduct route clearance missions, providing freedom of movement for all U.S. forces, Iraqi security forces and Iraqi citizens in the areas around Tikrit in the Salah ad Din province.
With the onset of Operation New Dawn and the official ending of U.S. combat operations in Iraq, the mission set for U.S. soldiers has changed, said Spc. Andrew Williams, a combat engineer assigned to Sapper Company.
“This company is traditionally a Sapper unit,” he said. “However, we are not really conducting the demolitions and combat missions usually associated with a Sapper on this tour.”
“Our mission here is route clearance,” said Williams, a native of Winsted, Minn. “We gear up, conduct our inspections, and patrol the main routes around Tikrit looking for Improvised Explosive Devices and anything else that could cause harm or impede a convoy movement.”
Patrolling the roads in convoys serves more than one purpose in the mission of route clearance, said Williams.
“Physically locating and clearing threats from the roads is the main objective of our mission,” said Williams. “Patrolling the roads during the times that IEDs and roadside bombs are most likely to be emplaced also serves as a deterrent. Bad guys are far less likely to be out there trying to set something up if they know we are on the roads looking for them.”
Soldiers of the 34th Sapper Company remain vigilant and proactive in the accomplishment of their mission to protect U.S. forces and Iraqi citizens, said Staff Sgt. Michael Flannigan, a combat engineer assigned to 34th Sapper Company.
The engineers of 34th Sapper Company maintain a proactive mindset in their route clearance mission and are prepared for any situation.
“If we suspect there is something that could potentially be a threat we will cordon the area and prepare to [investigate] the ite,” said Flannigan, who calls Cape Coral, Fla., home. “Our two main methods to interrogate a potential threat are the Husky and the Packbot.”
The husky mounted detection system, a wheeled vehicle with a mechanical arm, is used by engineers to investigate suspected IEDs or roadside threats.
If the engineers cannot investigate a suspected IED using the Husky, they will employ the Packbot, said Flannigan.
The Packbot, a small remote-controlled tracked vehicle is used by the engineers for several different purposes, said Flannigan.
The engineers operate the Packbot using a remote controller to investigate a threat or deliver a charge to detonate confirmed threats, he explained.
There have been no effective IED attacks in Tikrit since the 34th Sapper Company took responsibility for the area Nov. 1, 2010.
“We know how important our mission is, not only to the other U.S. forces who depend on clear routes throughout the area to conduct their advise, train, and assist mission, but also to the Iraqis,” said Williams.
Williams said the combat engineers do not like to be the topic of conversation.
“When we are not being talked about it means that our mission is being accomplished,” he said.
| Date Taken: | 02.22.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 02.25.2011 08:06 |
| Story ID: | 66054 |
| Location: | CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, IQ |
| Web Views: | 224 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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