'Charlie Rock' Stryker troops search Abu Discher neighborhoods

Photo By Master Sgt. Kap Kim | Spc. David Flores of Racine, Wis., checks out a rooftop during a cordon and search operation.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

02.19.2007

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Kap Kim 

2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

By Sgt. 1st Class Kap Kim
2nd BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Sometimes success is measured by big, statistical figures. Other times, success is measured by something else – something numbers can't ever support.

When Company C, "Charlie Rock," 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, headed out to Baghdad's Abu Discher neighborhoods, Feb. 8, they were looking to score some big numbers.

In an operation dubbed "Wolverine," aimed at finding suspected terrorists, they combined efforts with Company A, "Apocalypse," 1st Battalion, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Inf. Div., and a battalion of Iraqi National Police. Together, they searched more than 60 homes looking for terrorists.

Operation Wolverine took Charlie Rock back out to an old area of Baghdad they haven't operated out of since last October.

"I was a little nervous," admitted Spc. David Florez, of Racine, Wis., who was one of the Soldiers conducting the searches. "I was nervous being on top of all the roofs."

Since their arrival to Iraq, Charlie Rock has seen that particular section of Abu Discher go from predominantly Sunnis to now almost entirely Shiites. That change left Soldiers like Florez not really knowing what to expect.

In recent months, though, Charlie Rock Soldiers have had a lot of success with finding their targets. During Operation Wolverine, they didn't nab everyone, but what they achieved was something greater, according to 1st Lt. Kyle Packard, a platoon leader from West De Moines, Iowa.

"It's unusual for a mission this size to not be able to find any targets," he admitted. "I think it's still a success, though, because they (terrorists) cannot conduct their usual activities. Everyone knows we are out in the area, and it makes them leave."

Charlie Rock had the task of finding about a dozen different suspects believed to be involved in terrorist activities through a seemingly quiet residential area. According to Packard, although the neighborhood, which is littered with school-aged children, seems very calm, their history there tells them it has a heavy insurgent influence.

"By the joint and coalition forces and the National police being here, we are denying high-level [insurgents] from operating here," said Packard.

Charlie Rock has been in Iraq for a little more than seven months now and has had a lot of success through regular cordon and search missions, like this one. Through the past seven months, their company has captured more than 50 suspected terrorists and the cells they were operating from.

For Staff Sgt. Ernest Pablo, a squad leader from Barrigada, Guam, he and his team do their best during their cordon and search missions, but he admits that it is hard sometimes because the suspected insurgents move around so much.

The other thing his squad combats is complacency.

"Complacency is a big thing out here," he said. Yet, he said he keeps his squad's head in the game through tough and realistic training for the many potential dangers his Soldiers may face.

"The dangers are out there, but through proper training, we can motivate them to keep them on their toes," he said. "I think our unit is good on that – I mean, training doesn't just stop in the rear."

Pablo said keeping up their training also keeps his Soldiers safe and keeps their morale high for upcoming missions.

According to Packard, Charlie Rock's philosophy on its cordon and search mission – making sure that they deny anyone inside their sector of operations – has kept down the sectarian violence.

"Sometimes, you don't have to find targets for a mission to be a success," he said. "We can simply deny them the opportunity to operate."

• Date Taken: 02.19.2007
• Date Posted: 02.19.2007 12:53
• Story ID: 9179
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ