Courtesy Photo | 1st Lt. Matt Fletcher (left), platoon leader with 3rd Platoon, Company A, Brigade...... read more read more
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By: Matthew Burrell
CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq — The grounds of Camp Fallujah, located on the outskirts of the city hotly contested during Operation Iraqi Freedom, is garrison to the 1st Iraqi Army Infantry Division and home to a small contingent of U.S. Army combat engineers with the 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, United States Division – Center—all that remains of the U.S. presence through the ongoing transition to Iraqi self-sufficiency.
Since the beginning of Operation New Dawn, the security of the province has fallen on the shoulders of the Iraqi Security Forces, which have performed admirably against the last remnants of al-Qaeda in Iraq. That’s not to say U.S. soldiers don’t have a role in the security of Fallujah.
For the engineers are often called at Camp Fallujah, their job in Iraq can still be very dangerous. Their mission is to seek out roadside bombs before the devices can harm anyone.
Recently, they conducted a combined route clearance patrol with the 1st Bomb Disposal Company, 1st Iraqi Army Infantry Division.
“We try to go out with them [multiple times] each week,” said 1st Lt. Matt Fletcher, platoon leader with 3rd Platoon, Company A, Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th AAB, 3rd Infantry Division.
Earlier this month, the platoon was hit with an improvised explosive device. Fletcher knows his men must tread carefully and remain vigilant because they are a big target.
“It’s not like it used to be,” said Staff Sgt. Tony Smith, platoon sergeant with 3rd Platoon, Company A, BSTB.
Smith, who is serving his second deployment in Iraq, spent time in Ramadi in 2005 when al Qaida had a stranglehold on Anbar province.
“We’d get hit two or three times per day sometimes,” he said. During Smith’s current tour, that’s how many times the platoon has been hit in the past six months.
Smith said despite the change in the environment, he understands the importance of doing the right thing while working with the ISF.
“We are now in the training role. We have to assist the Iraqis and make sure everything is good before the mission,” Fletcher said.
The ISF are still learning more technical aspects of soldiering, like proper maintenance, and need a little extra help in those areas, he said.
Before the combined patrol, Maj. Anthony Cole, stability transition team engineer adviser, inspected the Iraqi Humvees before departing Camp Fallujah.
“They’ve come a long way since I’ve been here,” Cole said. “They are well on their way to being self-sufficient.”
Fletcher said one of the goals before his unit redeploys is to make sure the Iraqis are able to maintain their vehicles on their own. Company A has provided support and assistance with parts and maintenance thus far.
During the route clearance mission, the Iraqis spotted an overturned vehicle on the side of the road. Fletcher decided to remain in an advisory role and let the Iraqis handle the situation.
Fletcher said while the vehicle turned out not to be a threat, many situations on the road can present challenges, and you never know what to expect.
During the past three months, the soldiers with 3rd Platoon, Company A, have really bonded with their Iraqi counterparts. At first, it was difficult to communicate with the Iraqi bomb disposal teams due to the language barrier, but the soldiers found a unique way of overcoming the divide — humor.
“When I first got here, I was scared,” said Spc. Robert Gilley, a heavy equipment operator with 3rd Platoon, Company A. “I didn’t know what to expect.” Then, one day during a smoke break, the Iraqis and Americans found themselves together without an interpreter. The group was forced to resort to hand signals and gestures. In the end, they shared a good laugh at the awkwardness of the situation. The Iraqis have a great sense of humor, he said.
| Date Taken: | 01.24.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 02.12.2011 07:55 |
| Story ID: | 65310 |
| Location: | CAMP FALLUJAH, IQ |
| Web Views: | 375 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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