Saber improves mission readiness

Courtesy Photo | Troopers of C Troop, 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, attached to 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States Division – Central fix a loose mirror on their humvee, March 8, during maintenance. (U.S. Army photo by 2nd Lt. Daniel Elmblad)  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

03.08.2011

Courtesy Story

1st Cavalry Division (Rear Detachment)

By 2nd Lt. Daniel Elmblad

BAGHDAD – In a perfect world, all the vehicles and equipment necessary for a soldier to conduct their mission would be ready the first day he or she arrived in Iraq. However, that is rarely the case as soldiers spend many long hours and days getting their equipment, vehicles, and tactical operations center fully mission capable.

Fortunately, for the 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States Division – Central, its troopers came prepared to put in the long hours necessary to build the squadron’s mission strength.

C Troop recently received its vehicles that they will use for their duration in Iraq. The vehicles came from a squadron that just ended their mission in Iraq and redeployed back to the United States. Even though these vehicles have everything a soldier needs to properly and safely conduct his or her mission, they must still conduct preventive maintenance checks and services to verify these vehicles are ready.

“The soldiers have been working hard these past few days conducting maintenance on these vehicles; these trucks are practically new after all the work these troopers have done,” said Cpl. Paul Podhorn, a native of Temple, Texas.

With troops conducting patrols in support of the squadron’s advise and assist mission in Iraq, it is necessary to have these vehicles quickly and constantly mission capable.

“It is vital that we put in this work on these trucks because we need these vehicles to work properly for our upcoming missions,” said 2nd Lt. Dave Devine, a platoon leader in C Troop and a native of Warwick, R.I.

While vehicle maintenance can be a painstaking task, the troops understand the necessity of getting the vehicles ready.

“I have been impressed with the morale of the soldiers. The work has been hard, but they have stayed motivated throughout the entire process,” said Devine.

However, this is only a small sample of the hard work that soldiers of Saber Squadron have been putting in the past days. Throughout the squadron each day, soldiers continue to improve their mission strength by performing maintenance like this or through various other tasks. These soldiers know that a successful mission can only come through hard work.

• Date Taken: 03.08.2011
• Date Posted: 03.16.2011 10:42
• Story ID: 67172
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ