Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Bryant Maude | Sgt. Michael Taylor, left, from Newberg, N.C., is currently the gate sergeant of the...... read more read more
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Staff Sgt. Bryant Maude
1st Sustainment Brigade, Public Affairs Office
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – For Soldiers serving in Company B, 1st Battalion, 143rd Field Artillery, 168th Brigade Support Battalion, the word "Flexible" takes on real meaning.
"I was trained as a 31 Bravo, military police," said Spc. Jacob Chrones of San Diego.
"19 Kilo, tanker," stated Spc. Michael Dahl, of Beaumont, Calif., who is one of a dozen California National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Rapid Aerostat Initial Deployment mission for the 168th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Sustainment Brigade.
"It was kind of thrown in our lap," said Staff Sgt. Thomas Coy, the non-commissioned officer in charge of the RAID mission.
RAID is a giant balloon that flies high above the skies of bases in Iraq. It gives commanders on the ground a visual look at the area outside of the wire. Co. B was tasked with the mission shortly after arriving in theater and have adapted well.
"It was difficult at first because you have to calculate the right mix of helium and oxygen," stated Spc. Uriel Torres, RAID operator for Co. B, 1st Bn., 143rd FA, "but it's easy now."
Each of the team members underwent two and a half weeks of training before they were handed the around-the-clock mission of maintaining the giant balloon. "It's going great now," said Coy. "These guys are all smart and we're all flexible. You have to be, I guess."
Monitoring giant balloons is not the only thing Co. B has had to adapt to. Just down the street, at entry control point three, is another group of Soldiers performing an equally critical mission - force protection.
"Basically we're the defense of the base," stated Sgt. Michael Taylor, from Newberg, N.C., the gate sergeant of the guard at ECP three for the 46th Chemical Company. Trained as a chemical specialist, Taylor had to adapt quickly to the security mission given to him by Co. B, 1st Bn., 143rd FA.
"A guy has to be flexible to do this job," said Taylor "It takes flexibility to manage security, make improvements, control traffic and whatever else they may have for you."
The old saying "If life gives you lemons, make lemonade" seems to apply for these Soldiers; as all indications point to them making lemonade out of lemons.
| Date Taken: | 01.14.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 01.14.2008 11:57 |
| Story ID: | 15416 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 352 |
| Downloads: | 328 |
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