One platoon takes on three jobs

Photo By Spc. Kelly McDowell | Pfc. George Maxwell, Mortar Platoon, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, Multi-National Division -- Baghdad, takes aim while pulling security for the explosives ordnance disposal team in Mahmuhdiyah Thursday. The Mortar Platoon serves not only as the EOD escort, but also as detainee guard at the battalion internment facility and mortar men when the call for counter fire is needed.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

05.24.2006

Courtesy Story

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CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq - When a platoon is on-call 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week, there is no way of knowing what lies ahead or what to expect on their next mission.

Soldiers from Mortar Platoon, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, Multi-National Division " Baghdad, manage to tackle this challenge and thrive on adventure.

Not only do these Soldiers handle the task of being ready for any counter-fire called, but they provide escort for the explosives ordinance disposal team and are also responsible for detainee guard at the battalion internment facility.

"The reason we are different from other platoons is that we have to do the regular infantry job as well as the 11 Charlie job, which is knowing how to fire mortars and use mortars tactically and effectively," said Sgt. Jacob Brooks, lead truck and EOD coordinator, Mortar Platoon, HHC, 1st Bn., 502nd Inf. Regt. "We also have EOD escort and detainee guard at the battalion internment facility where we have to process and handle the detainees and we have to transport them to the brigade internment facility. We have to know all the proper procedures including the paperwork."

When first deployed to Baghdad, the Soldiers of the mortar platoon did not know what challenges laid ahead of them. When they arrived, it was clear they were going to have to take on a whole new series of missions and tasks.

"We have adapted very well," said Brooks. "We don't have a typical day. There are days when we have only one mission and there are days when we are gone from 0600 to 2300 hours."

Every day the Soldiers work to perfect their skills and maintain their equipment in order to be ready for anything.

"We wake up and (perform preventative maintenance) on our trucks, clean equipment and make sure we have the load plan set, and have strips, cones, MREs and water," said Pfc. George Maxwell, Mortar Platoon, 1st Bn., 502nd Inf. Regt. "Our goal is to do five rehearsals a day, preparing us for anything."

It is not all maintenance and rehearsals for these Soldiers. Once the nine-line EOD call comes in, the platoon is on the move. Within 15 minutes of the call, the convoys are ready to roll, said Maxwell.

This assignment has worked well for the Soldiers. With three different missions, their jobs are constantly changing and breaking the monotony of deployment, said Brooks.

"Our job is constantly changing. A crew will have a week of EOD escort, then a week of detainee guard and then a week of (hot gun), which is basically monitoring the radio and being ready to do a fire mission at any time of the day," said Brooks. "So, we basically have three different jobs while we are here and it doesn't get old because we do them each a week at a time."

With such diversity in their missions, the Soldiers have found they are making a difference no matter where they are assigned for that week. However, they take the most pride in their role as EOD escort.

"In your job, in order to feel you are fulfilled, you want to feel like you have made a difference and this job does make a difference," Brooks said. "We are going out there and taking care of the improvised-explosive device that could've hit a truck or (its) dismounts."

But each Soldier agrees that this is a job that could not be done without the help of other Soldiers out there looking for the threat.

"We have to give a lot of credit to the line companies that do find (the IEDs). They are doing a great job," said Sgt. Adam Clark, HHC, 1st Bn., 506th Inf. Regt. "I have become really good friends with the line company soldiers; you get to meet them, go to an IED site and we gain respect for each other and what we all do. It wasn't like that back at Fort Campbell, but now people know who we are and that we are making a difference and they appreciate our job and we appreciate theirs."

• Date Taken: 05.24.2006
• Date Posted: 05.24.2006 09:53
• Story ID: 6495
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ