Artillery Soldiers protect Freedom

MOSUL, IRAQ

07.26.2004

Courtesy Story

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MOSUL, Iraq -- They are the eyes and ears of Camp Freedom. They operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They were once artillery specialists who fired 155mm M198 Howitzer cannons, but today, the Soldiers from Battery C, 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery specialize in force protection, a duty that they do not take lightly.

"We take this mission very seriously because we know the end result if we don't do our job," said Capt. Richard Skultety, commander of Battery C. "We trained for a long time at Fort Lewis and various facilities to prepare for this mission and I am very proud of my men for the job they have done."

Skultety's men operate the Camp Freedom gates, guard towers and provide a quick reaction force. It's a normal occurrence for the gate sentinels to manage as many as 150 Iraqis and 50 to 100 contractor trucks desiring to enter the camp all at once. Staff Sgt. Charles Strong said every civilian and vehicle is searched no matter who the person is or what company they represent.

"Security is not meant to be quick and easy, it is supposed to be strict and thorough," said Strong, the sergeant of the guard. "People need to understand that, because security is supposed to be difficult and we are not going to soften our standards."

When mortars or rockets hit the camp, the QRF Soldiers of Battery C immediately deploy to the impact site to evacuate and treat casualties. In April, terrorists outside of Camp Freedom attacked members of a civilian contracted security team. Battery C's QRF team arrived on the scene to transport the casualties to the camp's troop medical clinic. Also in April, when multiple mortars hit the Camp Freedom gym and injured more than a dozen civilians and Soldiers, the QRF team provided aid to the wounded.

"It's really important that we get to the impact area quickly because we are the first to react and if we don't get there in time, people could die," said Sgt. Jose Rodriguez, non-commissioned officer in charge of the QRF team.

They also conduct crater analysis that 1st Lt. Rob Macbride said has helped infantry Soldiers capture the terrorists.

"We can determine what type of round impacted and where it came from," he said. "There have been many situations where our Soldiers in the tower heard or saw the launch, which we use to help determine the area the round was fired from. Once we have an idea of where it was launched from, we send the information to the infantry who travel to site."

Soldiers from various units at Camp Freedom are responsible for overlooking Mosul in the towers and reporting anything out of the ordinary to the Battery C Soldiers. Before the Soldiers report for tower duty, the SOG briefs the previous 24 hour's significant events and ensures that the Soldiers on duty understand the rules of engagement. "It's our job to make sure the Soldiers understand how to react to a situation," Strong said. "This is war and they must be alert at all times."

While on duty, the Soldiers providing force protection for Camp Freedom wear Kevlar helmets, eye protection and body armor. Despite working in temperatures that rise above 115, Skultety said they never complain and are proud to do their job. "These guys really care about keeping everyone safe at Camp Freedom," he said.

• Date Taken: 07.26.2004
• Date Posted: 07.26.2004 09:57
• Story ID: 155
• Location: MOSUL, IQ