By: Sgt. Josh H. Hauser
CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq (Sept. 23, 2005) -- "Is everybody in condition one?"
"Yes sergeant!"
"Alright, let's move."
And with that simple exchange the Marines of Alpha Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 25, 2nd Force Service Support Group (Forward), roll past the final entry control point of Camp Taqaddum for yet another security patrol on Iraq's dangerous and sometimes deadly roadways.
These Marines are tasked with traveling and clearing the various routes surrounding Taqaddum and searching for improvised explosive devices, insurgents and any suspicious activity.
Sergeant Kevin E. Brock, 3rd platoon squad leader, has been on these missions before. He's currently on his second tour here. His experience extends back to a seven-month tour he pulled here a year ago. With no Little Tennessee River or rolling hills of lush, green forest, the Iraqi desert is a far cry from the Monroe County, Tenn., native's roots. Instead of a glimpse of the Appalachian Mountains to the west, Brock's senses take in a much different landscape: one littered with sand, garbage and the constant threat of danger on the horizon.
"You got a vehicle on the right," Brock yells to his gunner and then again into the radio for the rest of the convoy.
The vehicle is stopped a safe distance from an upcoming intersection and waiting for the patrol to pass before proceeding.
"Most vehicles will pull off the road when they see us coming," Brock says. "The ones that don't are usually the VBIEDS [vehicle-born improvised explosive devices]."
The patrol continues on to the first of many checkpoints. Finally, the military police come to a halt.
Brock's driver, Lance Cpl. Joseph J. Clinton, peers through the vehicles bulletproof glass for any signs of danger before stepping out. Clinton, Brock and the rest of the patrol dismount and search the area for any unusual objects, a difficult task with the large amount of trash lying about. Clinton, a military policeman and 20-year-old Phoenix native, is the fifth generation of his family to serve the United States in a time of war and commented that spotting danger in Iraq is a constant learning experience.
"I ask questions," Clinton says pointedly. "It's important to have someone like Sergeant Brock to learn from and help mold your senses. You get to the point where you notice if something is unusual or just doesn't seem right."
After scouring the area, their search turns up nothing but a beetle which hurries from their footsteps as they return to their vehicles. The Marines mount up and continue on down a desolate stretch of road. As they proceed to the next checkpoint, Brock tries to describe the knack he has developed for seeing what most people would consider nothing.
"I don't know how to explain it," Brock says, referring to the task of searching for IEDs. "You just get to know what you're looking for."
The Marines take in everything around them, constantly communicating and looking for trouble.
"You notice something different today Clinton?," Brock quizzes his driver.
"Traffic's not as busy today, sergeant," he replied.
Even the volume of traffic is a noted sign that trouble could be just around the bend.
The Marines repeat the process at the next checkpoint. This time Brock's gunner shouts, "Three Iraqi males in a black Ford Taurus, sergeant; they're being checked."
After a few moments, the gunner yells, "They've been searched and let go, sergeant."
"Alright. Let's go," Brock shouts to Clinton.
"We have good gunners," Brock said. "They're about the busiest guys on the convoy."
Private First Class Chris L. Clark is the gunner aboard Brock's vehicle. He stands for the entire patrol, his head just barely breaching the top of the turret, a Browning M2 .50-caliber machine gun at his fingertips. His eyes continuously scan the roadsides and horizon for movement and ensures the distance between the convoy's vehicles doesn't change without his knowing. He knows the reality of his situation.
"When I'm up there I see threats," the 22-year-old Cape Coral, Fla., native said. "There are people out here who want to kill me and my fellow Marines. You're always in a combat zone, even when you're sleeping in your rack. Anything can happen."
Even still, Clark hopes to return to Iraq after his tour is complete in order to pass his knowledge on to future military policeman deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"This is what I joined the Marines to do," he said. "I want to come back and be the experienced guy. It's a good feeling."
After reaching and clearing the final checkpoint the Marines head back to base, their mission complete only after everyone returns safely. Today they found no IED's and the roads are clear, no cause for alarm, but that doesn't change their dedicated vigilance.
"Some days are busy, some days are slow," Brock says. "But you gotta" treat every day like it's busy. Because the day you don't is the day they get you."