Photo By Staff Sgt. Karl Johnson | Chief Master Sgt. Curtis Brownhill (left), command sergeant major, United States...... read more read more
By Master Sgt. Eric Lobsinger
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – It was a typical day in central Iraq Monday when Air Force Command Chief Master Sgt. Curtis Brownhill, the command sergeant major for Central Command, came to visit the Soldiers of Multi-National Division – Baghdad. The sun was baking the ground at a steady 115 degrees Fahrenheit and Soldiers were in full battle rattle convoying throughout the area in humvees, Abrams tanks, Bradley and Stryker Combat Vehicles as others plied the airways in Aviation Brigade helicopters.
What was perhaps not so typical was his opportunity to witness first-hand as MND-B Soldiers spotted an improvised-explosive device and immediately stopped the convoy he was riding in to take care of the dangerous obstacle implanted beneath the very road he was traveling on.
Brownhill, who is the first Air Force command chief master sergeant to serve as the Central Command's top enlisted leader, a position he has held for two years, said his visit with the Soldiers was important because it provided him an opportunity to represent Gen. John Abizaid, the commanding general of Central Command, and to be able to provide Abazaid's guidance down to the Soldiers themselves. The visit also provided him with an opportunity to bring issues back up from the field, which allows the leaders an opportunity to work to resolve the issues through the echelons of command. Central Command is based out of MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla.
"The biggest thing for me is just to be with those Soldiers," said Brownhill. "Our country should be so proud – the mothers and the fathers, the sisters, the brothers, the rest of the families, the neighborhoods," he said. It's the schools they came from, their communities have much to be proud of for these men and women who are out here doing this hard work.
Brownhill joined MND-B's Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald Riling for a short tour of the division's headquarters before boarding a helicopter for the flight up to Camp Taji, where he was whisked away in a humvee convoy headed for Taramiya to visit the Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.
While en route to the patrol base, alert personnel security detachment Soldiers in the lead vehicle noticed wires sticking out of a hole in the side of the road at the site of a previous roadside bomb attack. There was perhaps a sense of deja vu for Brownhill and his fellow travelers, whose convoy had been hit by another roadside bomb merely two days prior while traveling from Fallujah to Baghdad.
The Soldiers quickly brought the convoy to a stop, established a security perimeter and investigated the area. Once it was determined the area was safe, the convoy continued on to Taramiya.
Upon his arrival at the patrol base, he immediately commenced to introduce himself to the Soldiers and was briefed by Sgt. 1st Class Howard Moffett, a platoon sergeant with Company E, 1-66 AR.
"We've been here for about two months working with the Iraqi police," said Moffett. "We were working with the Iraqi army before, but they are now supporting operations in Baghdad. Things are getting better one step at a time."
Moffett's point was a key one for Brownhill.
"The hardest thing we have to deal with is not getting such an appetite," said Brownhill," as to think we can do it all in one day. It takes time."
The patrol base is one of the brigade's success stories, added Command Sgt. Maj. Ricky Young, 1-66 AR.
"Getting into the outlying areas has been very important," said Young. "We're doing a lot of work with the IPs and things are really coming along."
"It's important for the Soldiers to see the CENTCOM chief," said Riling. "It gives them a chance to see who he is and it provides him a chance to explain what he does. Plus, it's important for him as the CENTCOM command chief master sergeant to see what our Soldiers are doing out on the battlefield every day.
After the briefing, Brownhill went around and met with each of the Soldiers and shook their hands.
"How are you doing? Where are you from? What are you doing? How are you doing?" he asked each of the Soldiers he came to while leaning up against a wall with them or sitting down and chatting for a few minutes and thanking them for what they do.
"Thanks for coming in here and spending time with us," he told the troops. "It takes a lot to lead in this environment – leading Soldiers in combat – it is an awesome responsibility."
Afterward, he took advantage of an opportunity to go on the roof of the building to get a birds-eye view of the surrounding city before heading back to his convoy en route to Mashadda Patrol Base to visit with more 1-66 AR Soldiers.
"We follow the three Ps here when we deal with the local populace: be Polite, be Professional and be Prepared," explained Command Sgt. Maj. Larry Seaman, Special Troops Battalion, who is currently the acting 1st BCT command sergeant major. "The thing about the insurgency is you never know what is going to happen."
Following some heartfelt farewells, Browning turned and headed back toward the convoy to hit the road again. In fact, convoying is second nature to him since he travels throughout Central Command's area of operations.
After leaving the city of Taramiya, alert Soldiers once again spotted a potential roadside bomb and immediately brought the convoy to a stop – at the same site the previous IED was believed to have been emplaced. The Soldiers noticed a new set of wires sticking out of the same hole the convoy had stopped at on its way in. Gun crews opened fire with crew-served weapons into the wood line in an attempt to take out the triggerman.
Following an initial inspection, Soldiers believed there was no bomb. However, upon closer inspection, the Soldiers noticed a second set of wires, these leading down to a 130mm round, and called in an Explosive Ordnance Disposal team, which blew up the bomb in place.
Although the incident put the visit well behind schedule, Riling said he felt the experience was beneficial, particularly since Brownhill was able to witness the professionalism of the 4th Inf. Div.
Soldiers as they alertly discovered the roadside bomb and dealt with it.
"I think he was able to see our professional Soldiers in action, and he realized these guys know what they are doing," said Riling. "We don't find every IED, but today we were successful twice in finding IEDs. No one got injured today so that's a great thing."
Riling said the visit also offered Brownhill an opportunity to see firsthand how complex the fight really is.
"Here you are rolling into the town of Tarmiya and an hour and a half later you're rolling out and you have new wire put into the same hole – and it was rigged for the second time. I think he has a good perception of what's going on the battlefield. He sees how serious these guys take this and what a great job they're doing.
"He told me 'Hey I'm real proud of the Soldiers – they are doing a real good job out here.' I'm glad he was able to come out and visit Soldiers in the 4th Infantry Division. He's a Soldier's Soldier – that's what I like about him."
The remainder of the convoy went without incident as it rolled into Patrol Base Mushadda to meet with the Soldiers of dismount platoon, Co. B, 1-66 AR.
Once again, Browning quickly made the rounds visiting with the Soldiers and sat down to have lunch with them.
"Have I shaken your hand yet? he asked a Soldier. "I've been on a hand-shaking frenzy. You guys are some pretty important folks. Thanks a lot for what you are doing."
His relaxed style seemed to make Soldiers instantly relax and they were quick to open up to him. After lunch, he sat on the ground, leaning up against the wall and chatted with Pvt. Mitchell Hullman, who hails from Minnesota.
"I spend time with Soldiers, Airmen, Marines, Sailors and a lot of civilians as well. My style is such that I want to know the person," said Brownhill. "I want to know the human. I want to now who the Soldier is and learn a little bit about him, and when he's comfortable talking, we'll talk about what he's been doing or what she's been doing in their contribution to the nation.
| Date Taken: | 08.21.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 08.21.2006 14:20 |
| Story ID: | 7521 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 1,072 |
| Downloads: | 617 |
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