2-18 reacts and adapts

Photo By Spc. Nathan Goodall | Cpl. James N. Knudsen, a Camas, Wash., native, now a team leader with 3rd Platoon, A Company, 2nd Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team surveys an area near Gerdab, Afghanistan, April 14.  

COMBAT OUTPOST KHILAGAY, AFGHANISTAN

04.14.2011

Story by Pfc. Nathan Goodall 

170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team

COMBAT OUTPOST KHILAGAY, Afghanistan - Every mission starts with a good plan. Ideally, a mission would end successfully by executing that plan, but sometimes success depends on more than that. Sometimes success is defined by the innate ability to adapt to inevitable situations and deviate from the plan to complete the mission’s objectives.

Soldiers with 3rd Platoon, A Company, 2nd Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conducted a key leader engagement, construction and building assessments, and route reconnaissance during a four-day mission near Gerdab, Afghanistan, April 14-17.

“There are different parts to the mission,” said 1st Lt. Roman A. Terehoff, an Oakton, Va., native, now the platoon leader for 3rd Platoon. “We do route recon first and then we usually conduct the assessment of the village itself.”

Before 3rd Platoon soldiers left Combat Outpost Khilagay, they were up for hours preparing their vehicles and equipment. The sun was relentless, the air was hot and anything tied down to the trucks that wasn’t deemed secure after an inspection would result in administrative punishment for the soldier responsible. These factors didn’t faze the soldiers in the least. Preparation was excellent. They had it down to a science, thorough and efficient.

In-depth preparation was the groundwork for the platoon’s ability to adapt and perform during changing situations, something that would come up during their four-day mission.

Soldiers spent the first day exploring key points in their area of operations. They braved harsh and unexpected sandstorms with persistence and gathered important information before company leadership told the platoon leader to bring his men back to base due to weather.

The 3rd Platoon was met with more obstacles on day two of their four-day mission.

“Because the key leader engagement actually was on a Friday, which is the Afghan holy day, we decided to move the key leader engagement to the next day and do another route recon,” said Terehoff.

The soldiers deviated from their original schedule with ease, observing the cultural significance of conducting their key leader engagement on a different day and used their time to conduct more route recon.

“If the mission changes, don’t waste time,” said Spc. Mustafa H. Valadanzouj, a San Antonio native, now an M249 machine-gunner with 3rd Platoon. “You’re out there, make something of it. You’ve only got so much time to secure your area, to learn the area, to learn who’s around and who you can work with, so don’t waste the time. Just take what you’ve got and do what you can.”

The third day presented more variation from 3rd Platoon’s schedule.

“By the time we actually wanted to go to Gerdab Village, our Afghan partners were preoccupied with police business,” said Terehoff. “They were already investigating another incident, and they couldn’t partner with us at that time.”

Realizing it was good progress that the Afghan Uniformed Police were running their own mission, Terehoff quickly came up with another plan.

“We kept going back and forth over the radio with the company to figure out what the company wanted us to do,” said Cpl. James N. Knudsen, a Camas, Wash., native, now a team leader with 3rd Platoon.

Company leaders told 3rd Platoon they couldn’t run a mission without Afghan partners. The soldiers knew there was an Afghan Civil Order Police checkpoint nearby.

“We were granted approval to go on that follow-on mission and assess the ANCOP checkpoint, the bridge construction project and the ferry system, and what’s known as ambush alley,” said Terehoff.

Knudsen attributes 3rd Platoon’s ability to adapt during changing situations to good leadership and excellent teamwork.

“[Our teamwork is like] an old adage, treat other people the way you want to be treated,” said Valadanzouj. “You get what you put in. If you give respect, you’re more than likely to just get it in return. It’s about as real as it gets.”

The 3rd Platoon returned to COP Khilagay at the end of the fourth day as planned, successful in completing their mission’s objectives despite everything that stood in their way.

“I like going on patrols for the fact that I get to go out with my guys. I’ll say it. It’s cliché but they’re my brothers,” said Valadanzouj. “Going outside the wire, doing what the average American is not gonna’ do, it puts it into perspective that life is precious. You get to enjoy every moment. Like our platoon sergeant says, when we come back here, that’s a good day.”

• Date Taken: 04.14.2011
• Date Posted: 04.21.2011 11:45
• Story ID: 69107
• Location: COMBAT OUTPOST KHILAGAY, AF