A diverse force in steel dragon

Photo By Spc. Andrew Slovensky | Soldiers of Headquarters Battery, 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Task Force Steel Dragon, pose with a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected tactical vehicle on Contingency Operating Base Adder, Iraq, Sept. 24.  

TALLIL, IRAQ

09.30.2011

Story by Pvt. Andrew Slovensky 

362nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq - With the sun still low in the sky, soldiers of 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Task Force Steel Dragon, secure the structures of the excavated city of Ur, Dhi Qar province, Iraq. This mission: to provide security for a tour of the ancient site.

Although originally trained as a personal security detachment, these “Steel Dragons” have performed a variety of missions outside of the safety of Contingency Operating Base Adder since they deployed here in support of Operation New Dawn, in December 2010.

The force is composed of soldiers from different military jobs, but during this deployment, they have taken on tasks usually reserved for combat troops, said 2nd Lt. Christopher Molaro, Headquarters Battery 1st platoon leader. The platoon has completed more than 250 missions, including humanitarian and medical assistance; key leader engagements with local sheiks and Iraqi Security Forces, counter improvised explosive device, and counter indirect-fire missions.

Soldiers of Steel Dragon are not shy of accomplishments. They have delivered tons of flour, rice, beans, sugar, tea, and milk formula to Iraqi villages in need, said Molaro. In July, 1st platoon of Headquarters Battery assisted 3rd platoon of Alpha Battery in uncovering a series of six daisy-chained explosively-formed projectiles, improvised explosive devices designed to pierce military armored vehicles. And in August, Pfc. Thomas Adgate, a medic with 1st platoon, provided medical aid to an Iraqi child who suffered from 2nd and 3rd degree burns during a humanitarian aid mission.

Despite reposturing of U.S. forces in Iraq, the unit stays sharp and doesn’t suffer from complacency, said Staff Sgt. James Bryan Moffat, 1st platoon squad leader. “Until the last day, we are constantly trying to improve our position.”

Moffat and Molaro agreed that their soldiers have greatly developed while fulfilling a versatile role during the deployment.

Molaro said the greatest benefits of his mission in Iraq is working with his soldiers as they built connections with their Iraqi partners “Seeing them grow since the first day we got here.”

• Date Taken: 09.30.2011
• Date Posted: 10.05.2011 07:32
• Story ID: 78040
• Location: TALLIL, IQ