Photo By Cpl. Daniel Eddy | Sgt. Michael Garcia (left), a team leader with the 501st Military Police Company,...... read more read more
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BAGHDAD—Fifth century Spartan soldiers were the most fearsome and effective warriors of their time. However, they only acquired that reputation through tireless drilling and an unwavering commitment to be there for the men to their left and right.
Likewise, throughout the course of their deployment, the fifth squad "Spartans" with the 501st Military Police Company, Division Special Troops Battalion, 1st Armored Division, United States Division - Center, have formed a close-knit and unshakeable bond—an integral element to modern U.S. Army squads, as they must often complete missions alone.
This 14-soldier squad has held itself to a higher standard than what is expected of it by its leadership and watched out for each other during the deployment.
“My squad leader teaches us to go above and beyond the standard, and I am not just praising my squad leader, that is what he does,” said Pfc. Anthony Carey, a gunner with the 501st MP Company and a Truth or Consequences, N.M., native. “He has instilled it in us all. If any of us slack, it’s not acceptable.”
Spc. Hammad Al-Hameed, a medic with the 501st MP Company and a Fort Dodge, Iowa, native, said Carey is not afraid to come and ask him questions about medical tasks and that Carey wants to go above and beyond being just combat life saver. He said Carey likes to better himself as an individual and is always learning more than what is required out of him.
Carey said for some missions, Al-Hameed has the day off but will choose to go with 5th squad. Carey is very appreciative to have him there.
Like the initial Spartans, these Soldiers must remain disciplined and well prepared when called upon for continuous missions off post.
Sgt. Dennis Clement, a team leader with the 501st MP Company and a Lowell, Mass., native, said having soldiers that listen and pay attention to what is being taught makes missions easier. And when he goes out outside the base, he can be at ease knowing his soldiers know what to do at all times.
Running missions almost daily and holding each other to their high standard, these soldiers have developed a closeness like a family, seeking advice and giving assistance when needed.
“The [soldiers] ask all sorts of questions,” said Sgt. Michael Garcia, a team leader with the 501st MP Company and a Miami native on his third deployment. “We have been through [a deployment] and maybe we can help them through this [or] with something they don’t know. A lot of them are fresh out of high school, first time not having mom and dad helping them; you … [are] not mom and dad, but more like an uncle.”
Garcia said if a lesson learned from a mistake he made in the past can help prevent the same error by a different soldier, then he is glad to be there.
It is not just junior enlisted soldiers who seek advice for their questions.
Clement said whenever he has a leadership question he will go directly to his squad leader, Staff Sgt. Travis Ancrum, and he always has an answer. He said he likes seeing another way of doing things and it has really opened him up to being a leader.
Ancrum, a Charleston, S.C., native, on his fourth deployment since the beginning of OIF in 2003, said he uses his experience to help his soldiers with their current situations.
“I draw off a lot of past experiences,” Ancrum said. “I was a troubled soldier, so I went through a lot. I just build on that, [like how] past leadership handled me in different situations. If I haven’t been through it, I have at least heard of it and helped someone through it. So I just try and be compassionate with them. I know what it is like to be a private or a young sergeant trying to do the right thing.”
He said, at night, soldiers will come to him with their questions, and he will sit down and listen to what they have to say.
Ancrum said making sure his soldiers’ needs—health, emotional and mental—are met is the most important part of his job. Ancrum will pay attention to his soldiers and if one of them is not feeling well, he will give the soldier the day off.
Even though the Spartan soldiers may receive a day off every once in awhile, they are still willing to go on missions and be with the squad.
“My [squad leader] tries to give us days off, but I really don’t like taking days off,” Carey said. “I notice he doesn’t get days off and I told him when he gets a day off, then I will take a day off. I would feel really bad if something happened and I wasn’t there. I enjoy going out with the people, too. I am really close friends with [Al-Hameed], I enjoy their company when we go out on missions.”
The bond between the squad seems to be evident with Carey saying he is glad to have Ancrum as a squad leader and great team leaders as well.
Ancrum said he is just happy to be close with the members of his squad and having the squad work as one unit without the constant bickering.
“For me, when I was coming up in the Army, that was pretty big [to know] the people I work with, just really having a tight knit family,” Ancrum said. “This squad … I give the utmost praise to them, because they really keep it together.”
Ancrum said there have been missions when his squad has finished in the morning and have been required to go on another mission later in the day with little notification and have kept the motivation throughout the second undertaking, which is also another reason why his squad is so close.
Like the outnumbered Spartans at Thermopylae in fifth century B.C., fifth squad is bonded in a brotherhood forged on the battlefield—something Garcia adds, can only occur in combat.
| Date Taken: | 11.27.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 11.27.2010 04:28 |
| Story ID: | 60936 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 138 |
| Downloads: | 5 |
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