Courtesy Photo | A group of 2nd Platoon, 170th Support Maintenance Company soldiers place concertina...... read more read more
By Sgt. Jason Lee
170th Support Maintenance Company UPAR
KUWAIT - The night was cool and overcast, an ordinary night for members of the 170th Support Maintenance Company, part of Task Force Badger, 27th Infantry Brigade, at the Seaport of Debarkation/Embarkation. In the motor pool, members of the Quick Reaction Force gathered for a safety briefing. The gunners adjusted their gunner restraint systems, drivers settled in and truck commanders rechecked all the vehicle communications. Soldiers at the entry control points readied their areas and checked over their equipment. The soldiers were ready for a known, but uncertain mission.
The soldiers’ calm night abruptly changed when “protesters” entered the base, claiming to be mistreated by the soldiers. The protesters marched towards an entry control point shouting and holding signs that read, among other slogans, “Americans go home.”
The soldiers at the gate remained calm and quickly called the situation up to the command post. The Quick Reaction Force, led by Staff Sgt. Robert Griffiths, was immediately notified and dispatched to the scene. The gate personnel received additional support from a nearby entry control point. The soldiers began to rapidly place concertina wire between them and the protesters while attempting to defuse the situation.
“I saw a group of people coming towards my gate,” said Sgt. Benjamin Spahr, noncommissioned officer in charge of the entry control point. “I got on the radio, called up the situation to my higher command and our QRF elements. We separated ourselves from the protesters and protected our location by putting the wire across the road.”
The protesters shouted, threw water bottles and kicked over road signs as soldiers continued to assure them that they would listen to what they protesters had to say. As the situation grew more intense, reinforcement Area Reaction Force teams were called in from nearby Kuwaiti Naval Base. The two elements worked together to defuse the situation and disperse the angry crowd.
“We received a call stating that the SPOD/E had seven to 10 protesters outside the gate,” said Staff Sgt. Sean Smith, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry. “At that point, we had our Quick Reaction Force elements up and running and responded out to the SPOD/E. When we arrived everything seemed to be under control and the gate was on lockdown.”
At another gate, the sound of gunfire rang out toward soldiers manning the ECP. A quick, but detailed and effective description of the driver was given over the radio network. QRF and ARF teams quickly reacted and gave chase. Personnel in guard towers remained vigilant and reported on the chase every time the vehicle came in sight of their eagle eye tower view. The QRF and ARF elements followed the vehicle on a short-lived chase. The vehicle came to a stop and the driver was apprehended.
The scenarios above were not a real-life situations, but rather a battle drill conducted by Second Platoon, 170th Support Maintenance Company and members of the Company A, 2-108th Infantry to test the communication and response time of the two elements.
It is important to conduct battle drills because as time goes by soldiers may find themselves becoming complacent. Battle drills help reinforce training techniques and give the soldiers added ability to react quickly to several different types of situations.
“Overall, this battle drill was very effective,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Kevin Herrman, platoon leader, 2nd Platoon, 170th Support Maintenance Company. “The soldiers performed well. We have some good points and some things we have to work on, but overall they did an outstanding job.”
All elements involved felt the battle drills were effective and a good learning experience and a success.
“I think the hardest thing for a drill like this is having the two units work together towards achieving one objective,” said Lt. Col. Michael Murphy, commander, 27th STB. “The two units worked very well together for the first time out. I really think we have to continue to work together and respond as one Area Security Force and I think that this drill is the first step in merging the two elements.”
Soldiers of the 170th SMC prepared for this battle drill by conducting several shorter battle drills throughout the months working at the SPOD/E.
As soldiers of the ARF and SPOD/E continue to do their daily missions they know and understand that battle drills are, and always will be, an important and vital part of the tasks and missions they and other soldiers face on a daily basis.
| Date Taken: | 08.23.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 11.06.2012 17:59 |
| Story ID: | 97389 |
| Location: | KW |
| Web Views: | 306 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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