By Sgt. 1st Class Chris Seaton
Task Force XII Public Affairs Office
CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Planting improvised explosives devices is a dangerous business in central Iraq. Even the most experienced insurgent with a meticulous plan and a foolproof hiding spot can quickly find himself face to face with the business end of a Hellfire missile.
It's not that they don't try to hide. Most insurgents planning to attack a convoy, or lob a mortar at a coalition base, take great care in covering their intentions. But it's hard to fight a guy sitting in front of a monitor, miles away, flying an eight foot unmanned aerial vehicle.
"You can tell we do a lot of good here," said North Ridgeville, Ohio, native Spc. Eric Hansen, a UAV maintainer for 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division. "When we got here, we were getting mortared a lot; that's really slowed down since we've been here."
In Multi-National Division-Baghdad, the small unmanned aircraft are launched and recovered by Company G, Task Force XII's 'Guardian Angels.'
"The UAV is a huge combat multiplier that provides a real time picture of the battlefield," said Company G commander, Capt. Shirwen Separa, a native of Brockledge, Fla. "It provides surveillance and reconnaissance for the maneuver units to identify terrorists in the act of terrorism."
Made up of Soldiers from seven brigades in the MND-B area of operations, Company G is the embodiment of cooperation between the local commands in Iraq. While its headquarters is composed of Soldiers from the division's aviation brigade, Task Force XII, the six assigned platoons each hail from one of the maneuver brigades.
The Soldiers assigned to the "Guardian Angels" are responsible for maintaining, launching and recovering the aircraft, said Company G 1st Sgt. Todd Venema who hails from Grand Rapids, Minn. Once the planes are in the air, they fly to a specified handoff sight, where the forward operators in the brigades take to the helm of flying the aircraft in mid-flight.
"The platoons mostly work with their own brigades and their own aircraft" he said. "So the relationships are good, and the handoffs are seamless."
The pilots are also unique. While most Army pilots are commissioned or warrant officers, the Soldiers who patrol the Iraqi airspace from the ground are enlisted.
Sgt. 1st Class David Norsworthy, a UAV operator from Clarksville, Tenn. says he has a special perspective for just how valuable the eyes in the sky really are. He's an 11-year infantry veteran who says he can appreciate his new job for several reasons.
"It's a whole new world," said Norsworthy. "The way I used to deal with infantry Soldiers doesn't work here. But after 11 years of beating back brush and sleeping in the rain, this is the life.
"This job is kind of a novelty too," he added. "About once a week, we've got (Soldiers from other units) coming around to ask about what we do. At times, we've got VIP's walking through here."
"When I went to (a Soldier professional development school) pretty much every body in the class wanted to do what I do by the end," said Hansen.
Company G launches about 20 aircraft per day to patrol the skies over the Baghdad area. Once in the air, Soldiers at Taji, and in the maneuver brigades, monitor the feeds sent back by the planes.
"If an operator sees a threat they let the ground guys, or aviation close air support know," said Separa. "With the UAV, we can react to a threat almost instantly."
"I think they're a great asset to the Army," said Hansen. "You can fly them cheaply, and get surveillance 24 hours a day and in inclement weather."
"Most importantly, it minimizes lives at risk because they're unmanned," added Separa.
Even those who miss the quiet whirring sound of the tiny plane flying hundreds of feet above them, are sure to notice its effect – no matter how hard they try to hide.
| Date Taken: |
12.19.2007 |
| Date Posted: |
12.19.2007 20:20 |
| Story ID: |
14859 |
| Location: |
TAJI, IQ |
| Web Views: |
145 |
| Downloads: |
121 |
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