Photo By Pvt. Deangelo Wells | Maj. John Lim, brigade chaplain, 3rd Advise and Assist Brigade, 4th Infantry Division,...... read more read more
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DHI QAR PROVINCE, Iraq – Soldiers of 64th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Advise and Assist Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, along with KBR civilians, continue to deliver much needed supplies to their fellow Soldiers in Maysan province.
The 64th BSB is tasked to bring supplies from their base near Nasiriyah to various military installations at a moment’s notice. According to soldiers, they can bring supplies to a station one day, refuel, and then be tasked to bring more to another the next day.
“As a brigade support battalion, we are the ones to bring the supplies to the other units within the brigade,” said Sgt. 1st Class Tiffany Brown-Ramos, a healthcare specialist and convoy commander from Mobile, Ala., serving with Company A, 64th BSB.
These soldiers have accomplished more than 30 supply shipments throughout the bases of southern Iraq since being deployed. Although the trek to the base is eight hours from Nasiriyah, the Soldiers of 64th BSB have delivered 20 shipments there to keep the Soldiers well-supplied.
Despite the long hours it takes to gather supplies, maintain and perform quality control checks on vehicles, and drive throughout the night, these Soldiers continue to get the job done.
“I tip my hat off to all of you here,” said Lt. Col. Geoff DeTingo, 64th BSB commander. “I tip it off to you for what you guys do every day -- going out to these places and always completing the mission.”
Soldiers of 64th BSB don’t conduct their missions without preparation. Before setting out on any supply runs, soldiers prepare themselves and each other through pre-combat checks and inspections, mission briefings, rehearsals and run-throughs.
After staging the vehicles and inspecting equipment and soldiers, Brown-Ramos and other noncommissioned officers give a thorough briefing on each mission. The briefings contain subjects such as routes to be taken, convoy objectives and duties, call signs, and recent enemy activities on the planned route.
After the mission briefing, soldiers go through an intensive dry run of improvised explosive device response procedures and dismount routines. Each soldier runs through the rehearsals, acting out the emergency response for an improvised explosive device. The rehearsals include responding to threats, being hit with an explosive charge, explosive ordnance soldiers being called out, perimeter control, and convoy movement afterward. The rehearsals are run until each group of soldiers demonstrates an understanding of their actions as part of the team. Soldiers then eat, gear up and start their journey.
“We go through the rehearsal before each convoy,” said Pvt. Tramaine James, a fueler from Sunsea, S.C., with Company B, 64th BSB. “We don’t leave until everyone knows what they have to do.”
The convoy generally arrives at its destination within ten hours of leaving Adder, if there are no vehicle malfunctions or tactical stops. Soldiers are then briefed on the next 24 hours of operations covering where they will sleep, when they will eat, and the preparation for the next day’s mission to return to Nasiriyah.
The ten hour drives can make it hard to remain alert, so Soldiers use many methods to keep their vigilance up. The Soldiers have spent so much time doing these convoys together they have found techniques on keeping themselves alert and entertained, from thought-provoking conversations to cold drinks and a few snacks.
“We train to work long hours and be up all night to accomplish the mission,” said Pvt. George Braithwaite, a truck driver from Jacksonville, Fla., with Company B, 64th BSB. “I was trained to transport supplies and do what I am doing now. That’s what my sergeants ask of me so that’s what I do.”
| Date Taken: | 09.06.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 09.30.2010 04:42 |
| Story ID: | 57224 |
| Location: | DHI QAR PROVINCE, IQ |
| Web Views: | 27 |
| Downloads: | 6 |
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