Iraqi, U.S. Soldiers conduct joint aerial recon mission

Photo By Sgt. Shantelle Campbell | Capt. Paul Godson, commander, Company D, 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, reviews an aerial reconnaissance route with Maj. Mohammed, executive officer, 1st Battalion, 14th IA Bde. The two units conducted a joint aerial patrol of northern Salah ad-Din province, to give the Iraqi Soldiers a different perspective of the areas they patrol every day.  

BAYJI, IRAQ

03.03.2010

Courtesy Story

4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division

AL SINIYAH AIRBASE, Iraq - Nine officers from the 14th Iraqi Army Brigade conducted an aerial reconnaissance of their brigade's area of responsibility with support from Company D, 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division.

Several Company D Soldiers coordinated for the helicopter support and flew over the deserts of northern Salah ad-Din province observing villages, natural terrain features and road intersections with their Iraqi army counterparts.

The flight provided Iraqi Soldiers opportunities to observe strengths, weaknesses and potential vulnerabilities in their areas of responsibility.

"This was my second helicopter recon and it was very exciting. I noticed certain villages and areas that I would have never seen from the ground," said Lt. Mohammad, intelligence officer for the 14th IA Bde. "Going on this mission helps me better understand the land and will help me do my job."

Soldiers also used the reconnaissance to analyze and observe potential areas of enemy activity.

"Being able to see my battalion's area of responsibility from the air will help us with planning our missions," said Lt. Waleed, the 1st Battalion, 14th IA Bde., intelligence officer. "I will share this experience and the things I saw with other officers from my unit. We can make adjustments to the areas we focus our troops and our patrols."

Using maps, the officers were able to track the mission's progress, allowing them to take notes on specific things they saw in certain areas. If the Iraqi officers saw something interesting, headset radios were available to communicate with the pilots, who then circled and flew by the area again.

"The Iraqi army officers were excited by the opportunity of having a bird's eye view of the land they discuss in meetings and patrol with their Soldiers every day," said 1st Lt. Ben Juvinall, executive officer, Company D, 2-16 Inf.

• Date Taken: 03.03.2010
• Date Posted: 03.03.2010 07:26
• Story ID: 46078
• Location: BAYJI, IQ