4th Bn., 11th FA Regt. Soldiers move south to Taji

Photo By Sgt. Stephen Wylie | CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Sgt. 1st. Class Kip Russ (right) and Spc. Carl Watson, both of 4th Battalion, 11th Field Artillery Regiment,172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, based out of Fort Wainright, Alaska, make their way onward after receiving directions from a local resident Aug. 30. The battalion is currently working with Multi-National Division-Baghdad after completing a successful mission in Mosul in northern Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Stephen Wylie, 363rd MPAD)  

TAJI, IRAQ

09.07.2006

Story by Sgt. Stephen Wylie 

363rd Public Affairs Detachment

by Sgt. Stephen Wylie
363rd MPAD

CAMP TAJI, Iraq – After spending 12 long months patrolling the streets of Mosul in northern Iraq, the Soldiers of 4th Battalion, 11th Field Artillery Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, based out of Fort Wainwright, Alaska, are now taking on terrorists in neighborhoods near Baghdad.

"We had a great impact on the Mosul area," said Col. Scott Wuestner, commander, 4th Bn., 11th FA Regt.

Wuestner said he is confident his Soldiers and local residents will be able to rise to the next level in the fight against terrorists, adding that it is essential the (Iraqi) people provide their assistance in overcoming the terrorist threat.

The brigade was all set to redeploy back home before it was rerouted to Baghdad for an additional four months of duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Soldiers accepted their added responsibilities with pride, said Wuestner, in knowing they will bring a unique skill set and fresh approach to the new mission in a new area.

The field artillery Soldiers are taking over for an armored unit that performed a majority of its operations from tanks. The FA Soldiers primarily operate using humvees, although dismounted patrols are often their preferred course of action, which enables them to interact face-to-face with residents in the area, said Wuestner.

Following on the heels of their successes in Mosul with civil-military operations, the Soldiers will continue to rely heavily on human intelligence gathered through personal interaction with local Iraqi citizens.

Staff Sgt. Jeff Reisdorfer, section chief, Battery C, 4th Bn., 11th FA Regt., said that dismounted patrols and gathering intelligence from local residents are the keys to success.

"The people see us on a regular basis, and we are constantly stopping and talking to people and building rapport every day we come out here," added Reisdorfer.

The overall plan of attack is designed to achieve the goal of ridding the streets of those who would do harm to residents and oppose Iraqi and Coalition Forces in their quest for peace in Iraq.

• Date Taken: 09.07.2006
• Date Posted: 09.07.2006 10:11
• Story ID: 7651
• Location: TAJI, IQ