In this edition
Combat Camera Troops Record History
U.S. Engineers Survey $7M Water System
Freedom Journal Iraq, Feb. 25
510th Human Resources Company Joint Military Mail Terminal-BIAP
A Crucial Player in the Theater Distribution Network
Duties As a Mission Commander in Iraq
46th Engineers Strengthen Prison, Mission
Combat Camera Troops Record History
SATHER AIR BASE — When thinking of the word combat, many have visions of fire fights, violent conflicts and warfare. For a few Airmen and Soldiers, the word combat means being armed with a camera.
For these members of the Multi-National Corps - Iraq C39 Joint Combat Camera (ComCam) team, based out of Baghdad, taking still and motion imagery isn’t just a hobby … it is their mission.
“My job documents history in the making and shows folks at home what’s going on here,” said Staff Sgt. Joann Makinano, MNC-I combat photojournalist. “We are unfiltered and unbiased. What we see is what you get.”
“Our job brings the mission home to people around the world,” added Tech. Sgt. Adrienne Brammer, MNC-I combat videographer and member of the 1st Combat Camera Squadron at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. “It makes it accessible to people. Plus, a combat camera team gets to go where a lot of people don’t get to go.”
Many people have probably seen imagery from the war in a magazine, newspaper, online or on television, but may have failed to realize that behind every great photo, behind every great video, stands a person behind a lens.
“After seven years with ComCam and this being my third deployment, it’s become second nature,” said Makinano, who is also deployed from the 1st CCS at Charleston AFB. “Most of the units I’ve gone out with think we’re crazy, but we are Airmen and Soldiers first. And being a member of a team means that protecting your battle buddies is a higher priority, regardless of the job.”
“There are a lot of support functions on a base that never get to see the Soldiers they are supporting in action,” said Brammer, a Sparta, Ill., native. “Families in the States don’t know what it’s about and neither do taxpayers. They never really know what those Soldiers do on a mission, but we do. And we get to tell everyone about it, good or bad.”
Being armed with a camera may not sound like the ideal way to go into combat, but these combat camera personnel wouldn’t have it any other way.
Makinano said sometimes it feels surreal to be behind the lens and that in her three deployments she has seen firsthand the progression the country of Iraq has made.
“During my last deployment in 2007, there was a lot of action and I covered combat operations like raids,” said the Stockton, Calif., native. “It was nerve-racking and I was always anticipating the worst. This deployment, we’ve covered humanitarian aid drops and dismounted patrols with Iraqi counterparts. Things have since calmed down. But you still have to maintain situational awareness because you never know what may happen that day.”
So the next time you see a photo or video from the war, don’t forget about the person who took it. Don’t forget about the person behind the lens.
(By Staff Sgt. Tim Beckham, U.S. Air Forces Central)
U.S. Engineers Survey $7M Water System
A water tower near Nasiriyah provides clean water for citizens of southern Iraq. The structure is part of a new supply system that also supports four smaller towns nearby. Photo by Spc. Creighton Holub, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs
Thursday, 26 February 2009
By Spc. Creighton Holub
1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs
COB ADDER — American military and civilian engineers recently took to the sky for an eagle’s-eye view of the water systems of Nasiriyah and four smaller surrounding cities.
The final project, estimated to reach $7 million upon completion, will provide water to the citizens of five cities in the Dhi-qar province of southern Iraq. The current system includes a treatment plant and elevated water towers that were installed in 2007 and subsequently turned over to the Iraqi government.
“There are existing [water] networks, but they’re in terrible shape,” said James Thompson, a mechanical engineer working in the public works division of the Army Corps of Engineers’ Gulf Region Division based here. “This new network is going to have a greater effect per person. This is a project that the people are going to see and experience immediately. They are going to get water where they’ve never had water before.”
The Iraqi government is funding the project and is receiving guidance from the engineers in order to make the system as sturdy as possible.
The engineers traveled by helicopter for an aerial view of the water pipelines, water treatment plants and water towers in the Dhi Qar province, which is currently the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division’s area of operations.
According to Thompson, the upcoming pipeline system will serve the 500,000 citizens in the Dhi Qar province and will reduce the number and amount of leaks; providing more water for the citizens to use.
“I have a better understanding of the topography and soil structure where the water distribution project is taking place,” said Maj. Thomas McBroom, a Commander’s Emergency Relief Program project manager assigned to 602nd Engineering Detachment. “We’re going to be running water distribution pipes through five cities. While we were out there, we saw several CERP projects to include the Nasiriyah tree nursery and a few schools. They are all small projects in comparison to the water distribution project.”
Even if the water project is not complete before the summer, the 4th BCT commander explained that returning to the United States does not mean the Iraqi people will be left behind with unfinished business.
“We will be redeploying before we know it,” said Col. Philip Battaglia, the brigade’s commander. “[But] we’re setting the conditions for success.”
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510th Human Resources Company Joint Military Mail Terminal-BIAP
Sgt. Gary Pickett has proved to be great commodity to the Joint Military Mail Terminal. Pickett, a native of Jacksonville, Fla., has previous experience on mobile postal missions. Pickett is currently deployed with the 510th Human Resource Company, 10th Sustainment Brigade Troops Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, in support of Multi-National Division – Baghdad.
JOINT MILITARY MAIL TERMINAL-BIAP, Iraq – 510th continues to provide Contracting Officer Representatives and Technical Inspector expertise at the JMMT. The COR and TI missions have been vital in the oversight of the contracted Kellogg Brown, & Root, Inc. staff and continues to provide guidance, quality assurance and quality control.
JMMT has welcomed five new Air Force personnel to fill the COR and TI positions due to the upcoming re-deployment of the 510th Headquarters. These personnel are Tech Sgt. Matthew Lewis, a native of Quartzsite, Ariz., Staff Sgt. William Gentry, who hails from Greenup, Ill., Staff Sgt. Tory Sanders of Memphis, Tenn., Senior Airman Ashley Petersen of East St. Louis, Ill., and Senior Airman Felipe Viesca, a native of Victoria, Texas. The seasoned veterans at the JMMT are pleased to recognize these new members to the team.
While we welcome these new additions we bid farewell to the members of the 510th that will soon be re-deploying back to Fort Eustis, Va., after a long 15-month deployment. Sgt. Alexis Henderson of San Antonio, Sgt. Gary Pickett from Jacksonville, Fla., and Pfc. La’Summer Boyd of Shreveport, La., have been instrumental in the overall success of the mission at the JMMT and their professionalism, expertise and personalities will be dearly missed by all.
The JMMT services more than 75,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Department of Defense civilians within the Multi-National Division - Baghdad area of operations. Mail-call begins everyday at 7 a.m., and shortly after, unit mail clerks from 92 separate military units and DoD contractors begin to converge onto the JMMT grounds to receive their mail distribution. JMMT operates a 24-hour security gate in order to identify every individual and verify that they are in possession of a DD 285 Mail Handler Card; this ensures that only authorized personnel are entering the grounds and receiving mail. The TIs from 510th are constantly maintaining vigilance and ensuring that the mail pick-ups are conducted in accordance with all applicable rules and regulations. Additionally, the CORs from 510th are always present to assist unit mail clerks with any issues or concerns that they may have.
In addition to mail distribution, is the screening and processing of all outbound mail. Military post offices throughout the area of operations receive, process, and transport mail to the JMMT daily. Once these shipments are received, the JMMT begins the painstaking process of x-raying each individual parcel to ensure that no non-mailable items are inadvertently mailed out of theatre. In the event that one of these non-mailable items are discovered, they are removed, logged, and the parcel is sent on its way.
Together, KBR and the members of the 510th Human Resources Company are vital in ensuring a fluid operation amidst a constantly fluctuating tempo which includes the continuous re-deployment and arrival of new units. Our newest Air Force counterparts will continue to conduct operations at the JMMT to the highest standards. They have been properly trained to ensure a smooth transition and will continue the long lasting tradition of providing excellent and timely postal support to all of our brave men and women serving in Iraq.
Sgt. Alexis Henderson, a native of San Antonio and a contracting officer representative, has proven to be a great asset to the Joint Military Mail Terminal. With Henderson’s previous experience on mobile postal missions coupled with her Contracting Officer Representatives training and experience have made her a postal expert. Henderson is currently deployed with 510th Human Resource Company, 10th Sustainment Brigade Troops Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, in support of Multi-National Division – Baghdad.
A Crucial Player in the Theater Distribution Network
A civilian TEREX container handler lifts a flat rack containing E-Glass, a composite material due for delivery to provide crucial force protection improvements for Dining Facilities throughout theater. A series of PVC pipes located in the cargo yard, awaiting transportation is seen in the forefront.
Story by 1st Lt. Elizabeth Ann Cal
Date: 02.24.2009
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – The 21st Cargo Transfer Company, 398th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, is a crucial player in theater distribution network. Posted out of Fort Lewis, Wash., the unit deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, on Dec. 10, 2008, for a 12-month tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 09-11. The first few months of the deployment have been relentless, and there are no signs that the operational tempo will slow.
The 21st CTC supports three very highly visible and important missions throughout Iraq: two Centralized Receiving and Shipping Points at Camps Liberty and Taji, and the Arrival and Departure Airfield Control Group at Sather Air Base, Iraq. Each critical node supports the onward movement of cargo to its final destination throughout the entire theater of Iraq and Kuwait.
The Victory Base Complex CRSP yard is manned by the Soldiers of 1st Platoon. The VBC CRSP is the smallest yard in terms of area, yet possesses the highest volume of cargo going through it on a daily basis. All cargo and equipment coming into the Multi-National Division - Baghdad and area of operations passes through the VBC CRSP yard first before moving onward to forward operating bases.
With a 51-Soldier platoon, the VBC CRSP yard runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The VBC CRSP is further broken down into two 12-hour shifts. Each shift contains four distinct sections: the container lane, cargo lane, Class VII lane and the database section. Each of the lanes are responsible for a different commodity: containers, cargo composed of either 463L pallets or wooden skids, Class VII lane consisting of various pieces of military rolling stock, generators, anything with a motor, and living containers . The database section provides the documentation and tracking of all cargo which transits the VBC CRSP Yard. 1st Platoon services local customers on VBC including all the Supply Support Activities, or SSAs, coalition forces on VBC, and the numerous customers throughout Iraq and Kuwait. The 1st Platoon goes by the motto “Always First” and is under the supervision of 1st Lt. Elizabeth Cal, a native of Miami, and Staff Sgt. Tonia Montgomery, a Fort Littleton, Pa., native.
To date, 1st Platoon of the 21st CTC has received 3,349 pieces of palletized cargo, 1,554 military containers and 1,852 pieces of Class VII. The VBC CRSP has shipped 3,502 pieces of palletized cargo, 1,690 military containers, and nearly 2,000 Class VII pieces in the two months since arriving in theater.
The primary responsibility of the CRSP is the expeditious transshipment of all cargo through the VBC CRSP Yard. Equally as important is the accurate tracking and documenting of all cargo that comes into the yard before it moves to its final destination on outlying FOBs. Additional responsibilities include ensuring all deploying and redeploying units’ equipment meets the Required Delivery Date ensuring the SSAs receive the critical CL II and CL IX repair parts needed for the combat units, and coordinating the delivery of cargo that has a final destination within the Victory Base Complex. The primary means in which the cargo gets distributed throughout the theater is the utilization of both military and civilian convoys.
The VBC CRSP has serviced over 200 convoys traveling throughout Iraq and Kuwait. The Soldiers of 1st platoon coordinate the upload and download between 80 and 100 trucks daily from these convoys in, addition to local trucks, with Material Handling Equipment from the military and with the expert assistance of Kellogg Brown & Root civilian contractors. The Soldiers of 1st Platoon have, in addition to their assigned duties in the CRSP yard, performed 20 local missions for local customers requesting assistance for the movement of cargo. Most recently, six Soldiers helped transport 35 flat racks containing bullet proof fiber E-glass to future Dining Facility locations on VBC in support of the Army Corps of Engineers’ building project to increase the force protection measures and further enhance Soldier survivability.
Since taking over the VBC CRSP yard, 1st platoon has worked countless hours to improve the current operating procedures with the numerous civilian and military units required to run an active CRSP Yard. The results of hard work and dedication are showing as the CRSP total piece count has dropped from 1300 pieces to 720 pieces; meaning the customers are getting their valued cargo faster and more efficiently. The biggest issue the CRSP yard runs into is pushing out the cargo, so the ability to load and unload cargo quickly has significantly improved the CRSP yard operations. The CRSP yard maintains a limited amount of MHE; consisting of one Rough Terrain Container Handler, two 10K forklifts, and one 4K forklift. The remainder of the MHE assets comes from KBR civilian contractors assisting in the operations. The skilled Soldiers of 1st Platoon have been able to help the KBR MHE drivers increase the speed of the load time for each convoy entering the yard by providing accurate documentation for each convoy and the operator skills and abilities to load and unload each truck in a minimal amount of time. Since their arrival to Iraq, 1st Platoon has worked to improve not only the operational procedures, but the infrastructure of the yard. One of our goals is to continually make improvements for the VBC CRSP yard for future rotations. The leadership is working on repairing the concrete ramp, acquiring new mobile ramps to expedite the loading of all rolling stock, increasing the quantity of light sets, and emplacing a new administrative trailer to allow for the Soldiers to have an area to eat meals and complete paperwork, and continuing with the general upkeep and appearance of such a busy and traveled yard.
Since deploying, the unit has facilitated the high priority cargo transfer needs of not only the Brigade, but the entire Corps, movement throughout Kuwait and Iraq. 1st Platoon, 21st Cargo Transfer Company prides itself on customer satisfaction, safety and overall efficiency of cargo movement as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom’s theater distribution network.
A series of M1151s and MRAPs are staged in the CL VII Yard at the Victory Base Complex CRSP awaiting transportation to outlying forward operating bases. At anytime, there are over 300 pieces of similar equipment prepared for movement
Duties As a Mission Commander in Iraq
Heidelberg, Miss., native, 1st Lt. Eric Butler poses in front of one of his vehicles. Butler is a mission commander with the 154th Transportation Company, 553rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade.
Story by 2nd Lt. Eric Butler
Date: 02.24.2009
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq - Duties as a mission commander in the 154th Transportation Company, 553rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, are complex and require a great deal of preparation. Platoon leaders for Heavy Equipment Transport, Platoons in Iraq spend a great deal of time planning missions because the HET systems are in high demand. Missions begin when a company operations section receives a requirement from the battalion to move a specific piece of equipment such as a tank or Bradley Fighting Vehicle. The platoon leader then begins planning backwards using the Army’s five paragraph Operations Order.
First, the mission commander concentrates on collecting intelligence on enemy forces and identifying other friendly forces in the area of operation. Then he factors in weather, light data, and terrain to help determine the best time for the mission. Once those factors are set and the mission commander knows as much about the situation as possible, he moves on to establish his mission statement.
The mission is a detailed statement that informs the Soldier of the task that is required for them to perform. This statement is clear, concise, and always read twice. It contains the five Ws: who is involved, what they will do, when the start time is, where to begin, and why the mission is necessary. A good mission statement always contains the five Ws and can stand alone so that it is understood without other supporting documents.
Once the mission commander establishes a solid mission statement, he can begin to write his detailed plan for execution of the mission. The execution section of the OPORD is the longest and most important section to cover when a leader briefs their Soldiers. In this section, the mission commander details about the route of travel, timeline, order of vehicles, travel speed, and battle drills. All aspects are important. But battle drills are critical because they instill in the Soldier instinctive responses for how to react when something goes wrong.
Similarly, rehearsals are another vital portion of the execution section. The mission commander rehearses several battle drills with the Soldiers prior to each mission, so the steps are always fresh in their minds. Amidst stress, confusion, and uncertain circumstances, Soldiers rely on time-tested battle drills that have been rehearsed again and again to get them through sticky situations and back to safety.
Service and support - the fourth step in the OPORD - includes identifying fuel, maintenance, and medical facilities along the specified route that can be used if necessary. Most camps along the route store fuel, so vehicle operators could make an unplanned stop for refuel if required. Maintenance support is included in the convoy to some degree. For example, each wrecker has light maintenance capability for onsite repairs. If an onsite fix is unfeasible, a downed vehicle can easily be towed to the destination for repair within the safety of a camp. Finally, for medical support each convoy includes multiple combat lifesaver personnel, as well as identified medical facilities along the route. Combat lifesavers can administer first aid, IV fluids, and apply tourniquets if necessary, to prepare injured Soldiers for transport to the nearest medical facility.
The last step in the mission commander’s OPORD is command and signal. Here, he identifies who will take charge of the convoy if he can no longer perform those duties. It is crucial for each Soldier to understand who is in charge to avoid confusion during stressful situations and to prevent added conflict if the convoy is under attack. The Assistant Mission Commander is the next in charge after the mission commander, followed by the next non-commissioned officer according to rank and order of merit. During this step, the mission commander also outlines what types of communication and signals will be used during the convoy. A successful mission is dependent upon reliable, clear communications between vehicles and leadership in each convoy mission.
The duties and responsibilities of a mission commander in the 154th Trans. Co. are complicated, but they pay dividends when a successful mission is completed. The Army’s five paragraph OPORD is an effective tool when planning any type of military operation, and it is proven to save lives when used correctly. Planning must be conducted to standard each and every time.
46th Engineers Strengthen Prison, Mission
Multi-National Division - Baghdad engineers Spc. Juan Chillogalo (left) and Pvt. Jatarus Alexander, both assigned to the 46th Engineer Battalion from Fort Polk, La., struggle to drop supplies off of their vehicle for their fellow engineers Feb. 17. The engineers of the 46th Eng. Bn. make periodic visits to Camp Taji to check on the status of work from their welders and deliver materials.
Story by Staff Sgt. Mark Burrell
Date: 02.24.2009
BAGHDAD, Iraq – The Theater Internment Reconciliation Center under construction at Camp Taji is a new detainee facility that needs work. The government of Iraq asked the Multi National Division - Baghdad military police that operate the facility to strengthen the holding cells, so the MPs called in the engineers to do a ‘little welding.’
“It was more than a little job,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Frank Thibodeau, the senior enlisted advisor of the 46th Engineer Battalion Combat Heavy, from Fort Polk, La.
“It’s a lot of work in a short amount of time with limited supplies,” said Capt. Jon Berry, the facilities contract construction managing engineer for the TIRC from the 508th Military Police Battalion from Fort Lewis, Wash.
The 46th Eng. Bn. sent three engineers to live and work in Taji. The Soldiers received a welding class when they arrived, but hard work and on-the-job training was all the engineers needed to complete welding five cells in just four days.
“They’re expanding their skill set in a nontraditional manner,” said Lt. Col. Matthew Zajac, commander of the 46th Eng. Bn. “It’s a value added.”
Their mission is to provide a second barrier for the roof and add outer protection to the cell walls inside the already heavily fortified TIRC, said Sgt. William Coburn, the only school-trained metal worker and welder on the project from the 46th Eng. Bn. Coburn and about 15 Sailors, assigned as engineers from Camp Taji, helped train the Army engineers for the project.
“I prepped the others and they picked it up like it was second nature,” said Coburn, from Charleston, S.C. “We’ve gotten thumbs up from the MP lieutenant colonel, and Navy leadership also said, ‘good job and continue doing the good work.’”
“We’ve got a good working relationship with the Navy guys as far as getting the job done,” continued Coburn. “We all put our hands in and everybody's got a chance to put a bead down, to cut and to pre-fab work.”
Prefabricating the metal by staging and preparing it, welding metal beads onto the rebar and cutting steel pieces are what these troops are learning how to do with precision.
“Our mission is so technical if you don’t penetrate a bead right, it’ll bring down the whole shop, down the whole building, down the whole battalion,” reflected Coburn as he smiled; confidant in his work and the work of the other MND-B engineers.
“Progress is steady and hopefully we’ll make mission in the near future, because it’s all about the mission.”
According to the troops, acquiring these new skill sets make them stronger assets to the team, to the unit, to the mission and will make a stronger facility for the GoI.
Stumble It!
