Photo By Sgt. Daniel West | First Lieutenant Ryan Bennett and Master Sgt. David Lukasik, of the 214th Fires...... read more read more
By Sgt. Daniel T. West
214th Fires Brigade
FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq – When the 214th Fires Brigade arrived here, their force protection team knew they had their work cut out for them.
"It used to be the wild west here," said Master Sgt. David Lukasik, a native of Dunkirk, N.Y., non-commissioned officer in charge of force protection for the 214th FB and Forward Operating Base Delta. "There was no rules, and only spotty security."
The team works to coordinate relations with security personnel, install barriers and concertina wire for key locations around the base, introduce new defensive technology, arrange perimeter security and escort local citizens to work sites.
"It was like taming a wild horse," Lukasik said. "We had to establish procedures to improve security and get on line with theater procedures."
Usually, a five-man cell handles all of these duties, but this team consisted of Lukasik, 1st. Lt. Ryan Bennett and, Spc. Matthew Brodka, who fills in occasionally, but provides valuable assistance.
"We fell in on nothing, had to build from the ground up, or in some cases, below," said Bennett, officer in charge of force protection.
Among their members, though, the team delegated to duties in the best way possible.
"Master Sergeant (Lukasik) holds things together here, going out and doing spot corrections and putting out brush fires," Bennett added.
On top of working short-handed, the force protection team faced another challenge, posed by FOB Delta's large mix of coalition presence.
"The biggest challenge we faced was the language barrier, especially among coalition forces," Bennett said. "When you try to coordinate multiple units who speak the same language, it's not easy. When you factor in different languages, cultures and mentalities, well, it becomes quite an experience.
"Our directives are mainly in English, so we must translate them for non-U.S. troops," he said. "Issues come up when you're dealing with multiple languages. It's like a telephone exchange. Things are lost in translation."
Even with the challenges they faced, the evidence of their diligence is apparent to anyone who spends any time at FOB Delta. The defensive works surrounding key sites are formidable, a far cry from the spotty security Lukasik described from his first days here.
"If you drive around, you can see our impact in the physical increases in security on the FOB," he said.
"We're in a maintenance phase now, working on many programs and establishing operating procedures and our liaison with private security forces," Lukasik said.
"This job is very underappreciated," Bennett said. "If you do your job, no one notices."
But if that's the case, things are going well on the FOB.
"Our goal is not to be noticed," Bennett said.
| Date Taken: | 05.13.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 05.13.2008 10:39 |
| Story ID: | 19363 |
| Location: | AL KUT, IQ |
| Web Views: | 360 |
| Downloads: | 301 |
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