Courtesy Photo | A pilot from 3rd Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, prepares for take off in his...... read more read more
By Sgt. Susan Redwine
159th CAB PAO
LSA ANACONDA, Iraq - Nobody argues that the Soldiers on the ground conducting patrols and door-to-door missions have the toughest job in the Army. Soldiers not physically walking the ground do what they can to offer support to the ground guys, especially the Apache pilots of 3rd Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment.
"The mission is to support the ground guys," said Capt. Ryan Kelly, 3-101 operations officer. "The ground guys are the ones knocking on doors."
The unit is responsible for force protection and providing deterrence against enemy forces that would hinder ground units from doing their mission, Kelly said. In addition to that key mission, the unit also provides security for the LSA and escorts VIPs flying on the brigade's other lift helicopters, but attack pilots have a particular sense of urgency for ground-support operations.
"Our whole job in life is to support the guys on the ground," said Chief Warrant Officer Dale W. Miller, instructor pilot for Alpha Company. "That's our favorite mission. If they need us, we'll be there."
The unit is comprised of 24 attack helicopters armed with 30 mm guns, 2.75 inch rockets and Hellfire missiles, Kelly said. One company of Apaches is stationed on the LSA, with another company supporting units in the north and another in the south.
The flight schedule is based around intelligence reports and requests from ground units, he said. The helicopters are used to support ground maneuver units in the counter mortar and IED fight, as well as with other deliberate operations aimed at insurgent forces.
"We make ourselves known," Miller said. "It's a real show of force. If you mess with them [troops on the ground], you mess with us. You can tell in the ground guys" voices, they're glad we're there.
"Those are the guys taking all the fire," Miller went on. "Those are the guys we have the must respect for."
Capt. Ryan Eisenhauer, Company A platoon leader, said the Apaches are mostly a deterrent for LSA force-protection missions and their presence has lessened the amount of mortar attacks on the LSA.
"The mission is pretty much ideal for what we have around here," Eisenhauer said. "The addition of the cavalry assets will make us more effective and lessen the load," he added referring to 2-17 Cavalry, a unit of OH-58 Kiowa Warrior scouts attached to the battalion.
The Apache pilots have optical capabilities, allowing them to look at suspicious objects on the ground in order to help determine if the object is a threat that should be fired upon.
But what makes their airpower most effective is communication with the ground units, F-16 pilots and unmanned aerial vehicle controllers.
"It integrates everything for better coverage," Eisenhauer said. "Force protection as far as the FOB is concerned has worked very well."
The battalion arrived in Balad in September, a month ahead of the rest of the 159th Combat Aviation Brigade.
Kelly said he thinks the mission is going well so far. There have been a few key days when insurgent activity was expected to be high, so the unit planned ahead with missions.
Very little happened on those days, such as the day of the referendum vote because of prior planning and the presence of the helicopters, Kelly said.
The battalion is often deployed and has been involved in operations in Bosnia, Afghanistan, and OIF I. Kelly said 3rd Battalion "just always knows it's going to be deployed."
Because the unit has deployed so often, the Soldiers have had the opportunity to work with many other elements, and most of the Soldiers are very experienced.
"Working under another brigade is really a fluid process for us by now," Eisenhauer said. "We have no problem working with whoever needs us at the time."
"We'll do it and we'll exceed the standard," Kelly said.
| Date Taken: | 12.30.2005 |
| Date Posted: | 12.30.2005 13:15 |
| Story ID: | 4235 |
| Location: | BALAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 383 |
| Downloads: | 35 |
This work, Eagle Attack brings firepower to Anaconda, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
