KIRKUK, Iraq - After an informant came forward and made the Ready First Combat Team aware of a possible weapon cache in the area, the leadership immediately began putting together a team to deny insurgents access to the weapons March 27 in Kirkuk, Iraq.
This mission brought together combat engineers from Charlie Company, 1-1 Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, out of Fort Bliss, Texas, a military working dog team and Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, out of Fort Stewart, Ga., and their Iraqi partners, as a search team.
This cache search was a first for the combat engineers, who spend most of their time clearing the various routes used by security forces in Kirkuk, but not a first for the Task Force Marne Soldiers or their Iraqi partners.
"We're out almost every day working together, searching for weapons in the area," said a combined security force soldier.
The Kirkuk CSF soldiers provided security while Iraqi soldiers of 12th Field Iraqi Army used their heavy digging equipment to search the area. To assist their ISF partners in searching the area the Ready First Combat Team provided various metal detectors and a Mk 1 Husky, a military mine-detection vehicle.
At the close of this mission the Soldiers came out empty-handed. However, they know they accomplished a greater mission, according to Sgt. Travis Harvey, a Ship Rock, N.M., native and team leader with Charlie Company.
"We all know what we do is important," said SHarvey. "Even if we don't find anything, we all know that we are denying insurgents the use of the area and they know we are still out here looking for them."
Searching for weapons is perhaps one of the most essential missions ISF and U.S. Soldiers participate in.
"By getting out here and looking for the weapons we make the city more secure for the citizens and security forces," said Harvey. "We don't want any more injuries or deaths in the area so we will do what we can to prevent the insurgents from attacking us."