29th Soldiers pull escort duty for Saudi mission

Photo By Master Sgt. Nathan Hutchison | 1st Lt. Sean Smith, a 1st Squadron, 299th Cavalry Regiment Convoy Escort Team Leader, discusses the convoy holding procedure with a Kuwaiti customs officer at the Saudi/Kuwaiti border Feb. 19, 2009.  

CAMP ARIFJAN, KUWAIT

03.05.2009

Story by Sgt. Nathan Hutchison 

1st Theater Sustainment Command

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - In the Army there is always opportunity to train, and Soldiers in 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team are always willing to embrace the opportunity.

As Soldiers from the Kansas Army National Guard headed to Saudi Arabia for operation Friendship One, a field training exercise hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 29th IBCT and 1st Theater Sustainment Command Soldiers made a significant event contribution escorting over 60 truckloads of equipment to the Saudi Arabia border from Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.

"Our main interest was not security, but maintaining positive control of the equipment until it reached its destination," said 1st Lt. Sean Smith, a 1st Squadron, 299th Cavalry Regiment Convoy Escort Team Leader, "but that doesn't mean we are going to slack on our [techniques, tactics and procedures]."

Smith's team was responsible for convoy security. Convoys traveling to Iraq are required to have convoy security, so the command decision was made to handle this convoy similarly, at least until they reached the border.

"We handled this the same way we would a mission traveling throughout Iraq," Smith said. "There is always the potential that you are going to run into obstacles, so whether it's a maintenance halt, which happened on this mission; and with the large numbers of vehicles in convoys this is a typical issue, or a possible [improvised explosive device], I want to make sure my guys are prepared."

Along with Smith's escort team, Col. Mohammad Al-Mutairi, chief of Convoy Security, had a team of his security police available to keep the convoy moving smoothly.

"We only have a limited amount of vehicles to spare, but we are always willing to support any way we can," Al-Mutairi said. "My guys are able to learn about [U.S. Army's] tactics involving convoy security, but mainly we feel it is important for us to provide security too. It's important that we work together."

Once the truck arrived at the Saudi border, Smith, Al-Mutairi and their troops took the long drive back to their respective offices.

"This wasn't the kind of mission we were used to, but it gave us the opportunity to work with a different group than we're used to," Smith said. "It's always a good experience when CETs are on the road. Each of our missions constantly challenge and develop each of us into better leaders and Soldiers.

"It's always good to return to the forward operating base, after a successful mission. Now, the first thing after mission is to get all this road dirt off my weapon, my vehicle and finally myself."

• Date Taken: 03.05.2009
• Date Posted: 03.05.2009 02:54
• Story ID: 30757
• Location: CAMP ARIFJAN, KW