KIRKUK, Iraq - Combat engineers, have one of the more hazardous jobs in the U.S. Army. It is their job to go out in the dead of the night and search for improvised explosive devices and suspicious activity, along the roads their fellow Soldiers travel down on a daily basis
Completing this mission for 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division out of Fort Bliss, Texas, are their combat engineers with Charlie Company, 1-1 Special Troops Battalion.
Their day begins as the sun is goes down and other Soldiers are getting into bed, according to Spc. Adron Scarbrough, a native of Hughesville, Pa., and a combat engineer with 3rd Platoon, Company C
The Soldiers of Company C don't mind the late nights, according to Spc. Joseph McWhirter, a Brownwood, Texas, native, and Huskey operator with 1st Plt., Company C.
Anything beats sitting in the office all day, he said.
"It also, builds up the morale of the Soldiers in Charlie knowing we are out there making the roads safe," Spc. McWhirter said.
Spc. Scarbrough added, "There is nothing better than going out and finding something; it makes it all worth it."
Since deploying to Forward Operating Base Warrior, Kirkuk, Iraq, Company C Soldiers have discovered several homemade explosive devices, detained multiple suspected terrorists and cleared the roads of Kirkuk on a nightly basis.
Because they have been so successful, insurgents have even begun planting hoax IED's to see the Charlie Soldiers reaction, according to Scarbrough.
"They want to mimic our battle drills, so we just change things up as needed," he continued, "either we find them or they find us, and we're going to find them."
The danger that is associated with this job makes these Soldiers very proud of their work and brings them even closer together.
"We're a tight band of brothers and no matter what unit a combat engineer is in, he is welcomed with open arms," said Scarbrough.