Photo By Staff Sgt. Zachary Mott | Spc. Matthew Herman, a Buffalo Grove, Ill., native, uses binoculars to search the area...... read more read more
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By Sgt. Zach Mott
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
FORWARD OPERATING BASE CALLAHAN, Iraq – Each Soldier at Forward Operating Base Callahan plays a vital role in the mission – from the Soldiers that patrol the streets of the northern Baghdad neighborhoods that surround the compound to those who protect the base itself.
Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers with Company F, 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, who typically perform duties ranging from vehicle maintenance to food preparation, have been called upon to provide the force protection element for FOB Callahan.
"It's a big responsibility so I take it seriously," said Spc. Matthew Herman, a Buffalo Grove, Ill., native, who serves as a light wheel mechanic with Co. F, 1st CAB, 68th AR.
Herman stands watch at a rooftop position every other day to help keep the former shopping center compound secure.
Staff Sgt. Michael Turpin, the ammunition representative for the Silver Lions Battalion, works with his leaders to develop the security plan for the compound. His duties often mean long hours but, he said, it helps the time pass quicker on his third deployment with the Silver Lions.
In the nearly four months since 1st CAB began operations at FOB Callahan, Turpin has helped oversee a number of improvements to the security of the compound. He helped bring in new barriers, the addition of what he calls a "homemade sniper screen," and fortification of the guard points.
"It helps the Soldiers coming on and off duty on the guard so that people on the outside can't see what time they're changing," said the Medford, Ore., native.
One of the improvements that can't be seen with the naked eye, but one Turpin is just as proud of, is the reduced schedule for those providing the eyes and ears at the guard points.
"Our guys do a great job with guard force. They're up there constantly .. very little sleep sometimes. It's a lot better now. When we first got here, the guys would work sometimes four-days straight on guard without a day off. We've cut that down quite a bit. The most they might work is two days straight," he said.
Herman said the time he spends on guard duty allows him to spot irregularities that could be deadly if overlooked.
"You become real familiar with normal activities," he said. "You can spot anything out of normal really easily."
| Date Taken: | 06.30.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 06.30.2008 12:33 |
| Story ID: | 21014 |
| Location: | IQ |
| Web Views: | 214 |
| Downloads: | 99 |
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