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By Staff Sgt. Carlos Diaz
U.S. Central Command Air Forces Public Affairs
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – "This experience can't be summed up in words," said Senior Airman Rosalia Rodriguez, a 1-1 squad team turret gunner. "It's based on your actions."
This 21-year-old Airman knows all too well about the kind of action she can encounter when she's controlling her M-240 Medium Machine Gun.
Airman Rodriguez is not performing her usual security forces duties, which are to maintain the rule of law on a base. She's part of a detachment of approximately 150 security forces specialists who volunteered for a one-year deployment to Iraq.
Detachment 3, dubbed the "Wild Cards," is charged with the difficult task of coaching, mentoring, guiding and training members of Iraqi police units.
"This job is dramatically different from the standard security forces detail," said Maj. David Harris, Detachment 3 commander. "We're focusing on mentoring the police, and we're trying to build a police force."
Harris said this is the only Air Force unit of this size performing police transition team missions in Iraq.
Approximately 13 members are assigned to nine squads, in which seven of those squads often conduct operations with Iraqi police forces in the Rashid District of Baghdad.
These security forces members come from 45 bases across the Air Force and 65 different units. Several of them met for the first time during their two month-long training that began in September at Ft. Hood, Texas. By mid November, they were "boots on ground."
Progress has been made halfway though their deployment. The security forces team has performed approximately 700 missions, have conducted more than 140 joint patrols and have trained almost 1,500 Iraqi policemen.
To produce good officers of law and order, the police transition teams train the Iraqi policemen at their stations. This means conducting daily convoy missions through some of the most dangerous streets in the city.
"Mission preparation begins three hours before we head out," said Staff Sgt. Dwight Valeros, second in charge of 2-1 squad. "That gives us plenty of time to check our gear and equipment, load our weapons with ammo and receive our mission briefings."
Before any mission, the squads conduct thorough battle drills. "During these drills, we go over our tactics, techniques and procedures," Valeros said.
This involves running through several scenarios, such as possible rollovers, which means pulling the turret gunner's seat off, and tightly grabbing onto his or her legs and bracing for impact. They also practice expeditiously exiting the vehicle from the turret if a grenade is thrown inside; taking control of the vehicle if the driver is knocked unconscious and knowing how to unlock a door from the outside to free anyone trapped inside after an improvised explosive device has struck the vehicle.
"The enemy is getting smarter, so we have to know how to act, react and learn," Valeros stressed. "This is a three dimensional battlefield, so you have to be ready for anything."
On a late April day, Valeros' will was put to the ultimate test. On that fateful day, his squad's team was attacked. An explosively formed projectile struck one of their vehicles and an interpreter's legs were blown off.
"He's my friend, and I miss him," Valeros said of the Iraqi interpreter who was medically evacuated to Jordan. He described his friend as a comedic movie character who always knew how to bring a smile to people's faces.
"While we were applying the tourniquets, he begged for water. I gave him some, and then someone quickly realized that he wasn't supposed to consume water during that situation. He then spit the water out and said, 'It's gone, you see.' He then laughed hysterically."
During that intense situation, Valeros realized that a little bit of humor helped him deal with the stress of the moment. He doesn't dwell on what happened.
"I made decisions that day, and a leader has to be able to lead his troops during any type of situation," he said. "They're counting on that leadership."
Traveling through treacherous trails, doesn't get any easier for Senior Airman Cory Carpenter, a primary humvee driver.
"I've learned to drive it well," he said, banking on this three-years of driving experience with the massive military vehicle. The 21-year-old Airman has spent four years in the Air Force, and this is his first deployment.
"I'd never been on any (temporary duties), so I figured it was time to do something worthwhile," Carpenter said.
He further added that his time and effort spent have been well worth it. "It's not every day you get to do a job the Air Force doesn't normally do," he said.
The Air Force is training a new kind of Airman, as stated in the new Airman's Creed: "An American Airman's mission is to fly, fight and win."
These security forces members who are putting their lives on the line on a daily basis epitomize the warrior ethos the Airman's Creed specifies. Their ages vary from just being old enough to vote to 20-year veterans.
A recent mission took the 1-1 squad to a blown-up police station. It was ripped to shreds when a truck filled with vehicle-borne IEDs drove through the entry control point and detonated near the building. Several Iraqi policemen died in the attack, including many who were critically injured. What's left of the dilapidated building still houses members of the police station, including its commander.
The 1-1 squad leader, Tech. Sgt. Bayne Sullivan, conducted business with the station's commander, Col. Mushtak Taleb. "We discussed contracting issues with the reconstruction of the new building and the upcoming recruiting drive," Sullivan said.
"All of us appreciate the hard work of Sergeant Sullivan and his team," Taleb said. "We have to start all over, and his logistical help has been important for our recovery."
As that particular station recovers, Rodriguez can't forget the moment she had to protect her squad from imminent danger, March 10. By employing the powerful M-240 Medium Machine Gun she's been entrusted with, she eliminated the threat.
"I never thought I'd have to take someone's life," she said. "I never expected that to happen, but I had to protect my team, and that's exactly what I did."
Knowing just how important her mission is, Rodriguez is able to positively reflect on this experience.
"This whole experience makes me appreciate life that much more, and I'm grateful for everything I have."
Rodriguez's effort along with the other brave security forces specialists is only a small part of the puzzle that will eventually complete the peace and stability this region desperately needs.
| Date Taken: | 05.16.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 05.16.2007 13:37 |
| Story ID: | 10417 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 81 |
| Downloads: | 61 |
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