Airborne Cav. remains vigilant, despite changes

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Jared Gehmann | Staff Sgt. Richard Grimsley of Charleston, S.C., greets a young Iraqi girl during a checkpoint patrol Aug. 19 in the Ma'dain region, located outside eastern Baghdad. Grimsley is a squad leader assigned to Troop A, 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad. Prior to moving to the outskirts of eastern Baghdad, Troop A operated in the heart of Baghdad's Rusafa District.  

MA'DAIN REGION, IRAQ

08.20.2009

Story by Pvt. Jared Gehmann 

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division

MA'DAIN REGION, Iraq — Undeveloped areas and vast farmlands are some of the key characteristics that makeup the southeastern areas outside the Iraqi capital where Multi-National Division - Baghdad paratroopers currently operate.

For the paratroopers assigned to Troop A, 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, these scenes are a far cry from where these men operated in just a few months ago, in the heart of Baghdad's Rusafa District.

From patrolling the tight, damaged bullet-riddled alleyways and the congested streets of Rusafa to now operating in rural villages in the Ma'dain region, outside of east Baghdad, the surroundings are a huge change for the members of Troop A.

However, these troopers adapted to the change in scenery quickly. They moved from inside Baghdad to the rural Joint Security Station Salie, a month prior to the June 30 mandate that called for all U.S. combat forces to leave urban areas. Despite the move, the mission reminds the same.

"Out here in the suburbs, it is a completely different environment. It's a huge transition from an urban area to the rural area," said 1st Lt. Kyle Turner, of Jacksonville, Fla., a platoon leader assigned to Troop A. "Even though we are no longer in the city, we still stay alert and prepare for the worst on each mission. Just because we haven't seen any combat action in a while doesn't mean that we should ever be any less prepared, after all we are still in a war zone."

Turner said that although the rural environment is less intense then the streets of Baghdad, there are still many dangers and he and his team are consistently keeping a look out for anything out of the ordinary.

On this morning, the U.S. paratroopers worked alongside an Iraqi federal police officer conducting a traffic control point to crack down on the movement of munitions and explosives throughout the Ma'dain region.

The control points were manned by the FP while the cavalry troopers pulled guard in the surrounding area and oversaw the operation.

Many of Troop A's members are thrilled to see their Iraqi counterparts having a larger role in the execution of daily missions.
"It's nice to have the ISF doing a lot of the work," said Spc. Matthew Santonastaso, of Fitchburg, Mass., a combat medic assigned to Troop A. "At first, we did most of the work, but it seems like the Iraqi soldiers and police are really learning to run things."

The men have also noticed that the local residents are much more receptive of them.

"Out here we feel much more wanted," said Turner. "Now the kids wave at us, and always want to try talking to us. The adults seem much friendlier and less afraid as well," he said.

The day's mission went without any significant actions but regardless of the location, the mission will stay the same.

"As long as we can stop the supply of weapons and explosives into Baghdad, Iraq, will be a safer place," said Turner.

• Date Taken: 08.20.2009
• Date Posted: 08.20.2009 03:38
• Story ID: 37731
• Location: MA'DAIN REGION, IQ