CONTINGENCY OPERATING LOCATION Q-WEST, Iraq — Before dawn, March 17, Tennessee Soldiers from Headquarters and Engineer Troop, 1st Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment with the 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) were out performing inspections on their vehicles and preparing for a long convoy south.
"Our mission over the next four days is really threefold," said Command Sgt. Maj. Michael L. Butler, the command sergeant major for 1/278th ACR. "Initially, this trip was laid on so that the commander and I could attend the 15th Sustainment Brigade's command conference at Joint Base Ballad, but it also became a trip of opportunity to visit our Assault Troop and Destroyer Troop, as well as evaluate Engineer Troop, who is our means of travel."
In order to better accomplish the 278th ACR's mission here in Iraq, Assault Troop and Destroyer Troop were attached to other squadrons. With Assault Troop at Contingency Operating Location Taji and Destroyer Troop at Joint Base Ballad, both are performing convoy security missions for their newly assigned squadrons.
"Since being assigned to 2nd Squadron, our Soldiers have been running missions as far north as Speicher and south to Adder just north of the Kuwait border. Our Soldiers have performed extremely well in difficult circumstances and have adjusted to the requirements of night operations," said 1st Lt. Patrick D. McGrail, commander of Destroyer Troop.
"Our Troopers have really adapted well and are running convoy missions at a consistently high tempo since joining Regimental Troops Squadron at Taji. They have been running missions from Southern Iraq to the North border," said 1st Sgt. Jesse M. Ewer, first sergeant for Assault Troop.
With 1/278th ACR spread throughout Iraq, it is often difficult for the command staff to see each troop on a regular basis, so they must take full advantage of trips to Southern Iraq. The commander of 1/278th ACR, Lt. Col. Jimmie L. Cole, Jr. and Command Sgt. Maj. Butler were able to do just that with the help of Engineer Troop and the commander's personal truck crew from Headquarters.
"My responsibility as a Truck Commander for the commander means always having the equipment and crew ready to go. I'm trained on the duties of the TC, Gunner and Driver. I also assist with planning and coordination with the unit we are accompanying," said Sgt. 1st Class Jeromy S. Edwards, a TC in Headquarters, 1/278th ACR from Oakfield, Tenn.
"Engineer Troop had the lead in this mission. From the mission brief delivered by the convoy commander 1st Lt. Kenneth R. McDevitt to the intelligence information briefed by Spc. Joshua L. Hargrove, Engineer Troop did an excellent job. The commander and I expected nothing less," said Butler.
Engineer Troop, like so many other troops in 1/278th ACR, has a plethora of seasoned combat warriors with multiple deployments. With that experience also comes the responsibility to lead and develop younger Soldiers.
Truck Commander Sgt. Mancel C. Fincher is seeing deployment from a different seat this time. On his last deployment he was in the Gunner's turret or the Driver's seat, but as a TC, he now focuses on the safety and training of his crew Pfc. William E. Archie, his Driver, and Pfc. Zachery T. Johnson, his gunner. Staying on top of truck maintenance is also critical, as repairs were need while out on this mission. Luckily, Destroyer Troop was able to help out their fellow troop with a few repairs and a tire change while the convoy was at Ballad.
After four days of being on the road with several stops at multiple military locations, Engineer Troop returned to COL Q-West safely with the command staff, March 20, and the "threefold" mission was complete without incident.
| Date Taken: |
03.25.2010 |
| Date Posted: |
03.25.2010 09:58 |
| Story ID: |
47197 |
| Location: |
CONTINGENCY OPERATING LOCATION Q-WEST, IQ |
| Web Views: |
532 |
| Downloads: |
390 |
PUBLIC DOMAIN
This work, Tennessee Guardsmen making their rounds in Iraq, by CPT Desiree Pavlick, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
Subscribe
