Photo By Spc. Allison Churchill | Sgt. 1st Class Gerald Houghtaling and Staff Sgt. James David stop to chat about...... read more read more
By Sgt. Allison Churchill
41st Fires Brigade
FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq – Writing policy. Stopping speeders. Planning safe structures. Securing stadiums for ceremonies.
All in a day's work for the Forward Operating Base Delta Force Protection team, manned by eight 41st Fires Brigade Soldiers.
"If Soldiers can go out and work and come back to a safe environment, we've done our job," said Santa Rosa, Calif., native 1st Lt. Theresa Piasta, Force Protection officer-in-charge.
The team splits responsibilities to better handle the growing FOB and the delicate balance between security and diplomacy.
One section, headed by Sgt. Alexander Perez, of Rochester, N.Y., and supported by Spc. Brian Bailey, of Rapid City, S.D., and Spc. Colby-Travis Buenteo, of Honolulu, escorts the local national work crews.
"We want the [Iraqi citizens] to feel comfortable working with coalition forces, because it will improve force protection overall," said Piasta. Aside from the Iraqis who come onto the FOB to work through the entry control points, there are several hundred who live on the FOB at the Iraqi police academy.
Her team works with the badge office to keep accountability of the Iraqis and their specific privileges. They also work with Triple Canopy and several other agencies to keep the guards aware of changes in regulations concerning the Iraqis.
Unfortunately, some locals try to come on the FOB for the wrong reasons. Sergeant 1st Class Gerald Houghtaling, Orlando, Fla., acts as "FOB Sheriff," drives the nearly 30 kilometer perimeter daily to look for suspicious people on the berms around the FOB, breaches or anything that could be improved.
"People just don't realize how close everything is to the perimeter," he said of several buildings.
During his drives he also checks the firing ranges, as he is also the range control non-commissioned officer-in-charge. Since the FOB doesn't have a dedicated police force, he also stops drivers if they're obviously speeding.
Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Fillnow, of Sturgis, N.C., is the night shift NCOIC. He executes many of the same tasks as Houghtaling and maintains the several security cameras around the perimeter. He is usually accompanied by Spc. Troy Bass, of Pittsburg, Calif., who also serves as an escort for local national employees.
The night shift team has encountered incoming small arms fire. In each case they quickly took defensive positions and kept the situation from escalating, said Piasta.
"I have a very brave team willing to do what's needed to protect the FOB and its people," she said.
When necessary, the team accompanies coalition forces outside the wire to ensure safety.
Houston native Staff Sgt. James David, normally the plans and construction NCOIC, manned a security sensor system at the Oct. 29 Wasit provincial Iraqi control ceremony, during which security control of the province was given back to Iraqi leadership.
"We were able to provide the Iraqi police with the ability to safely screen vehicles without putting anyone in harm's way," said David. "It was an outstanding event and afforded the IPs the opportunity to show they're in charge."
| Date Taken: | 11.13.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 11.13.2008 23:10 |
| Story ID: | 26311 |
| Location: | AL KUT, IQ |
| Web Views: | 351 |
| Downloads: | 221 |
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