Task Force Bayou accepts new mission in Iraq

Courtesy Photo | Louisiana National Guard Soldiers with A Company, 3 Battalion, 156th Infantry Regiment, mount lights on their Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle. Task Force Bayou is currently deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as part of the 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. (Photo by: Sgt. Nathaniel P. Orphey)  

JOINT BASE BALAD, IRAQ

06.18.2010

Courtesy Story

256th Brigade Combat Team, Louisiana Army National Guard

Story by: Sgt. Nathaniel P. Orphey

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq -- The Louisiana National Guard’s 3rd Battalion, 156th Infantry Regiment will accept a new mission in their current deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The Bayou Bandits, headquartered in Lake Charles, La., currently deployed with the 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, were originally tasked with providing security to convoys transporting equipment and supplies to assist with setting the conditions for the responsible drawdown of U.S. Troops and equipment in Iraq.

In their new mission in support of the 3rd Sustainment Brigade out of Fort Stewart, Ga., Task Force Bayou will continue to provide convoy security teams and will also provide quick reaction forces and security for contracted vehicle recovery teams. B Company has been tasked with providing support for special operations units located throughout Iraq.

“Our mission hasn’t really changed, it’s grown,” explained Master Sgt. Orise Cormier of Jennings, La., the operations sergeant for Task Force Bayou. “The main change is that we are going to be running a lot more missions to more places than we were while at Al Asad.”

The new mission requires the battalion to take charge of what was formerly a brigade-size mission. “This will be a challenging new task for us,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Stephen Hickman of DeQuincy, La., “but our Soldiers have trained hard and are more than capable of accomplishing the mission that has been given to us.”

To help support its new missions, the Bandits have been assigned an additional company from the 256th.

G Company, 199th Brigade Support Battalion, permanently attached to New Orleans’ 1-141st Field Artillery Battalion, will relocate to provide additional convoy security forces. The various 3-156th companies will be conducting their new missions from different forward operating bases across Iraq.

The battalion headquarters will be at JBB, while other company-size elements will be located at Contingency Operating Locations Speicher and Marez. Smaller elements will be located at additional operating bases including Al Asad Air Base, Victory Base Complex in Baghdad, as well as Basrah and Baquabah.

“Having units work out of multiple locations is not a new experience for us.” said Lt. Col. David Gooch of Katy, Texas, TF Bayou commander. “Our Battalion is made up of units located at nine different cities across western Louisiana and we have quite a bit of experience operating out of separate communities in support of state missions.”

• Date Taken: 06.18.2010
• Date Posted: 06.18.2010 08:41
• Story ID: 51593
• Location: JOINT BASE BALAD, IQ