Iraq - The Next Generation...

Evening...

Back on September 11, 2008, I wrote a blog called Vivid Memories. I had been tipped that CNN had interviewed a number of our warriors from the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment in Baquba, Iraq for a video they were producing. I got busy and never went back to look for it...

Tonight I had some free time and went hunting. Sure enough...there was the video...

Take a look - maybe you will see one of your warriors that Arwa Damon, CNN International Correspondent, wrote about in the article posted on my 9/11/2008 blog.

Note the patches, the faces, the location.

These are today's warriors and heroes who are working their way through 15 long months of combat. Warriors so young on 9/11/2001 they had no idea they would become part of the next generation to serve in harm's way on foreign soil.

Listen to their views as they take care of business and grind through each day.

I am so proud of these men and women...

Enjoy the video and thanks for the sacrifice your warrior is making. I appreciate all they are doing...

Chris, I love you son!

Be safe!

v/r,
Collabman


Iraq: the new generation
CNN's Arwa Damon talks to young troops serving in Iraq, many of whom were barely teenagers during the 9-11 attacks.

Golden Hour...

Spc. Cortni Berger, a combat medic with the 2nd Stryker Calvary Regiment’s evacuation platoon, shows Iraqi Police how to properly use a protective gauze. Berger is a native of Clio, MI.
Photo by Spc. Anthony Hooker


"The golden hour is the first sixty minutes after the occurrence of multi-system trauma. It is widely believed that the victim's chances of survival are greatest if they receive definitive care in the operating room within the first hour after a severe injury."

Evening...again...

It has been a while since I have blogged twice in one day. However, the work of combat medics with the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment's evacuation platoon is more than worthy of another blog.

The combat medics for the 2nd SCR highlighted in this article face challenges well beyond their job. I am humbled by their efforts and so very glad to have them in the fight...especially during that golden hour when they first reach a warrior who has been wounded.

See what you think...

Here is a tip of the hat to these brave women who would tell you..."just doing my job." - well done!

Enjoy...

v/r,
- Collabman

===================

They’re no damsels in distress: Medics from 2nd Stryker Calvary Regiment Help Shape the Battlefield
Expeditionary Times
Story by: SPC Anthony Hooker

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq – Spc. Cortni Berger and Pfc. Nicole Walsh, combat medics with the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment’s evacuation platoon, show the kindof enthusiasm of young adults not far removed from high school. Jokes and smiles come easy when they’re in conversation, and the pair see themselves as simply doing their job. But by doing their job, Berger, 21, and Walsh, 23, give their peers and patients a different outlook on the world - a world that must acknowledge the presence of female Soldiers on the battlefield.

The Department of the Army has declared that women are excluded from military occupational skill positions which routinely engage in direct combat, according to DA pamphlet 611-21, table 13-1. Thirty-nine military occupational specialties ban females, but thousands of women since World War II have worked in combat zones and today’s volunteer force is trained and qualified to defeat any opposition with deadly force.

Berger, a native of Clio, Mich. said that anyone in this conflict understands that the enemy isn’t worried about classifying troops by gender or job.

“Everyone always says over here there’s no front line,” said Berger. “The enemy doesn’t meet us head on. They just don’t care.”

The two estimate their vehicles have taken six direct hits from improvised explosive devices.

“We’ve been hit by little IEDs where the convoys just continued to roll,” said Berger. “We’ve also been in an IED attack that has stopped the convoy.”

Often paired together on convoys, Walsh said she’s familiar with and confident of Berger’s skills.

“When we’re out together, we seem to find those IEDs . . . but I know she will do a good job if something happens,” said Walsh, a native of Milford, Conn. “We have credibility with each other.”

Thirteen of the 16 people in the duo’s section are women. The line units they support were hesitant to accept the squadron at first, but Walsh said the heat of battle flashed a light on her team’s abilities. The skeptics became believers.

“Our aid station has so many trauma patients come in – the line units usually help us manage the incoming casualties,” said Walsh. “When they see us working on these people, we gain their credibility. They learn we can do our job when the time comes and they get more comfortable with us.”

Walsh finished her thought, saying that nobody cares if a guy or girl is helping them if they’re seriously hurt.

Walsh said she also has experienced some rejection when treating Iraqi civilians. The clash of cultures may have left both feeling frustrated but Walsh said her dedication to duty may have left a permanent impression.

“Maybe he could see that women are able to be smart and competent,” Walsh said. “Not much is expected from their women, so I hope I gave him an idea that ‘Wow! Women can do things.”

The two assist in other duties as well. They can support a unit with armed defense if a vehicle breaks down or someone needs assistance, serve as occasional instructors when visiting Iraqi Police stations and help facilitate the turnover of humvees to the Iraqi Army.

Master Sgt. Keith Tester is Berger’s and Walsh’s platoon sergeant. Tester, a 21-year veteran, said it’s not uncommon to see a woman lay down suppressive fire. “We’ve had (women) man .50 caliber gunner positions,” said Tester. “If someone gets hurt, a female may have to take over the gunner’s spot, depending on the situation.”

Walsh and Berger know that their presence in combat will draw attention. They acknowledged the significance of their acts, but said they were only following in others’ footsteps.

“Clara Barton, who founded the Red Cross, said ‘If I can’t be a Soldier, I’m going to help a Soldier,’” said Walsh. “She was a nurse receiving guys from the front line. Now, we have an opportunity to get our guys and help them during the golden hour (the first hour, considered the most critical to determine a rate of recovery).”

Readiness...

U.S. Army Europe commander Gen. Carter Ham, right, checks out Cpl. Evan Fay's Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle on Forward Operating Base Key West, Iraq. Fay is with the 16th Sustainment Brigade out of Bamberg.
Nancy Montgomery / S&S

Evening...

The news hounds tipped an insightful article from Stars & Stripes that is almost like sitting in on a brief from General Carter Ham, Commander, US Army Europe (USAREUR) on his assessment of the readiness of his US Army units. He shares his concerns on preparing warriors for deployment and what those redeploying, read that as the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, might expect...

I found it useful. For those of you with warriors in the 2nd SCR, I hope you do too...

Still no word from Chris. Thanks for those who are praying for him and the entire 2nd SCR. We are not there yet...so please continue to hold fast...

Chris, I love you buddy. Hang tough...we got you covered in prayer...

Be safe!

v/r,
- Collabman

==================

USAREUR commander makes the rounds on Iraq visit

By Nancy Montgomery, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Monday, September 28, 2008

Related Stories:

• U.S. officers see gains in Iraq as counterinsurgency role evolves
• Training soldiers for battle not only priority

Gen. Carter Ham, new USAREUR commander, seemed the most enthused of soldiers making a re-enlistment commericial at Camp Speicher last weekend. They did it in four takes.

Fueled mostly by Gatorade and the occasional bag of chips, Gen. Carter Ham last week made his first visit as U.S. Army Europe commander to his troops in Iraq.

The general, who once commanded all forces in northern Iraq, wanted to know how well troops — in the midst of their deployments in an ever-changing battleground — thought their training back in Germany had prepared them.

"I’m confident of the plan," Ham said. "I’m also confident that the plan won’t unfold perfectly."

He had already been to Hohenfels; it was the first place he went after taking USAREUR command at the beginning of September.

"That was no accident," Ham said. "The most important thing we do is prepare our units to deploy."

He liked what he saw in Hohenfels but questions remained.

"The mission rehearsal exercise is a fairly generic exercise design — vaguely Iraqi, a mix of ethnicities, religions and tribes," Ham said.

"If we know a brigade is going to Kirkuk, we can make Hohenfels into Kirkuk — but should we do that?" Ham said. "The downside is if you prepare them for a more peaceful area and then they get shifted (to a violent one). That’s not so good."

He also wanted to talk about how best to redeploy troops that are almost certain to deploy again in a year, with new senior leaders.

"First AD is going to turn around very, very quickly," Ham said. "I better have them ready to deploy in a year. That’s going to be a challenge to get the right senior leaders. We can’t wait for the normal summer move cycle."

As for the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment from Vilseck, the challenge is a little different. That unit will be leaving about half its 300 Strykers in Kuwait, which means many Strykers will have to be obtained quickly for training.

"I don’t have deployment orders," Ham said. "But my sense is, for a short while anything that gets reduced in Iraq could very well get shifted to Afghanistan. Maybe by the end of ’09, we’ll see more dwell time, which would be a good thing.… Fifteen months deployment, followed by 12 months home, followed by 12 months deployed — that’s a lot to ask."

Those were large concerns, but not the only reason for the visit. Ham also just wanted to see the troops.

"Here’s how it works," he said to a group of soldiers with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st AD, in the Forward Operating Base Hammer chow hall. "You ask whatever you want, and I decide if I want to answer it."

One lieutenant asked about more training time at their Baumholder base. Another asked when they would be getting Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles. Ham answered, then asked about their quarters.

Silence.

Finally, one soldier said, "Sir, they had us living out of closets."

"So, not so great," Ham said. "So, it’s far, far less than ideal. The reality is we ain’t there yet. But we owe you better than that."

But what’s owed and what can be provided isn’t always the same thing. Units set to return to Germany after long deployments — including the soon-to-redeploy 2nd SCR — will be over strength when it soon returns to Germany.

That’s partly because of lower-than-predicted casualty rates.

"That’s the good news," Ham said.

The bad news is quarters for single soldiers are expected to be more crowded, not less — possibly with three to a room in some cases.

"It may be three to a room; it might be something better than that. I don’t know yet," Ham said. "If I had a magic wand and could put every soldier in a 1-plus-1 (a two-room suite with a bath in the middle), I would do that. I haven’t found that magic wand yet. Still lookin.’ "

Ham is a warm, avuncular figure, white-haired at 56, who clearly enjoys being around troops. He pats backs, drapes an arm around shoulders, gives attaboys, and makes jokes, often at the mess hall — one of the few meals he was seen to eat — Ham cracked up a group of MPs.

When Capt. Solon Webb, commander at a Baqouba outpost, briefed him on the unit’s activities and said he had found young Iraqi officers to be more flexible and can-do than their senior officers, Ham smiled.

"Some would argue the U.S. Army is no different," he said.

Ham asked Webb about casualties. One soldier was killed by small-arms fire in Baghdad but none since, the captain said. "We’ve been lucky."

"There’s an element of luck to it," Ham replied. "There’s also competence and expertise and good leadership."

Ham mists up when he recalls a young brain-injured soldier he knew who partially recovered and turned up one day in his wheelchair for a Pentagon visit. He’s a proponent of keeping wounded soldiers in the Army if they can contribute, even if they can no longer haul a rucksack.

The suicide bombing in a Mosul mess tent within his command four years ago that killed 22 people and wounded 69, most of them soldiers, remains a signal event.

"It’s hard to go on after something like that," Ham said. "You say, ‘Yes, I failed.’ But I also learned. You say, ‘Am I better able to make a contribution now because of that?’ And I think I can. It still hurts. Every day I think about that."

Ham went to Camp Speicher to see Maj. Gen. Mark Hertling, 1st AD commander and commander of northern Iraq forces; and the 18th Engineer Brigade. He went to FOB Key West to see the newly modularized 16th Sustainment Brigade, where he happily listened to logisitics briefs for what seemed like hours.

He spent much of his final day in the back of a Stryker, traveling among several eerie combat outposts in old Iraqi buildings in Diyala province — sparsely furnished but with elliptical machines — to see soldiers with the 2nd Stryker Combat Regiment.

He climbed into MRAPs, checked out barracks, toured offices, handed out U.S. Army Europe coins, made a re-enlistment commercial, posed for photos, attended briefings and office calls and asked a lot of questions, even when he knew the answers.

One officer at FOB Warhorse told him that training for roadside bombs — and, most recently, booby-trapped houses — should be more realistic.

"It’s not just a puff of smoke and a bang," the officer said. "You need to have something that gives that 30 seconds of stun."

Ham knew about the lackluster simulations. Although when his convoy was hit during his Iraq command, another officer said, Ham had simply dusted himself off, checked his watch and continued on to his meeting in Mosul.

After his tour, though, Ham said, he needed time and space to regroup, and he’s adamant that soldiers get the same.

"Coming out of Iraq, I said, ‘Give me a long weekend, and I’ll be OK,’ " Ham said.

His boss, Gen. George Casey, insisted Ham take 30 days leave.

"A week into it, I realized I needed 30 days," Ham said.

Ham agreed there needed to be more dramatic IED simulations, possibly in Romania, where training is less constrained, and that mission rehearsals should reflect the trends of female suicide bombers and booby-trapped houses. He was leaning toward making the mission rehearsals more area-specific.

He’d also decided more sophisticated role-playing and cultural training was needed for officers to engage with Iraqi leaders, sheiks, tribal elders and others.

All in all, Ham said, he was reassured by what he heard on the trip.

"I was very pleased. The commanders felt they were very well prepared," he said on the flight back to Heidelberg. "I also gained some insights — no major change of direction, but areas of emphasis."

Back at the FOB Hammer chow hall, Ham had given a sort of benediction to the young soldiers with many months to go in their 15-month deployment.

"Your families — know that they love you, and you love them," he said. "Keep that dialogue alive. The days in Iraq are endless, but the weeks and the months go by pretty quickly."

Feeling the Heat...

"There are pockets in Diyala where there are some insurgent groups that are able to operate or some militia groups that are capable of operating, but not with a whole lot of freedom and not with much reach. Their position has really been undermined."
LTC Rod Coffey, commander, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment

Evening...

Another week gone...another day closer...another birthday in the sand box for my youngest son. No word from Chris on his birthday yesterday so he must be busy. We saw his fingerprints virtually which indicates he is ok...but I sure would like to talk with him. In due time...

The info hounds were busy overnight. However, not much to show for their efforts. There was an article in the Middle East Times from UPI Correspondent Richard Tomkins that speaks to the work of 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry in the Diyala province. These young warriors have done a marvelous job - I am so proud and thankful for their sacrifice.


Feature: AQI feels the heat
By RICHARD TOMKINS (UPI Correspondent)
Published: September 26, 2008

MUQDADIYA, Iraq, Sept. 26 (UPI) -- Al-Qaida terrorists attempting to reinfiltrate central portions of volatile Diyala province from hideouts along its northern and eastern fringes apparently are finding an increasingly inhospitable landscape from which to operate, according to U.S. military officials.

The Iraqi army, with American troop support, is continuing Operation Bashaer al-Kheir (Promise of Good), an offensive launched at the end of July by as many as 50,000 soldiers and special Emergency Response Police units to sweep cities, towns and villages to root out al-Qaida in Iraq cells and other extremist gunmen in what has long been a major transit route for terrorists to enter and leave Baghdad.

Local police, meanwhile, stage raids in their jurisdictions to round up extremist suspects. They do so with warrants issued by the courts after citizens have filed formal, corroborated and sworn complaints with government prosecutors, something unheard of just a few months ago.

"There are pockets in Diyala where there are some insurgent groups that are able to operate or some militia groups that are capable of operating, but not with a whole lot of freedom and not with much reach," said Lt. Col. Rod Coffey, commander of the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment. "Their position has really been undermined.

"You really don't see AQI attacking people of any stripe in this sector anymore. But we do see some organizing, some recruiting effort, but it (AQI) certainly doesn't have any strength here."

Coffey's troops are based near Muqdadiya, a market town north of the provincial capital of Baquba. Baquba was the capital of AQI's self-proclaimed Islamic State; Muqdadiya and the nearby agricultural region known as the "bread basket" was its headquarters for training and storing weapons. Successive U.S. military operations late last year and early this year drove senior AQI leaders and many cadres out of the Muqdadiya and bread basket areas north toward Mosul in Nineva province and also east over the Hamrin ridge to the more desolate and sparsely populated sectors next to the Iranian border.

It's from the border area that AQI operatives are trying to reinfiltrate the Muqdadiya area to visit close family or start new cells.

"The low-level players who have ties to the area are starting to come back in ones or twos," said 1st Lt. Steve Saxion, a platoon leader with 3/2. "They don't have a lot of time to stick around. Normally if they cross back, they're around for about a week before we get them."

U.S. detentions of AQI and other extremists number between seven and 10 per week, according to Coffey. Iraqi detentions are much higher. According to available figures, at least 1,600 suspected terrorists have been rolled up by Iraqi Security Forces in Diyala province since the end of July.

In a small, concrete cell of the police headquarters in the town of Dali Abbas recently sat two men accused in warrants of being members of an AQI kidnap and murder squad. Iraqi Police Col. Mahmoud Tayeh Mahmoud said the two were grabbed after they slipped back into the area to see their families. Both had been active in the Dali Abbas area during 2006-2007 sectarian battles and had warrants out for their arrests.

In August, he said, his station -- working with Iraqi Security Forces -- arrested eight al-Qaida suspects who were believed to be trying to organize a new cell.

"They are not very active now, but we have to continue to have operations everywhere," he said.

The number of al-Qaida in Diyala province at any one time is not known. Many are believed to have fled north to the area of Mosul, one of the last urban redoubts of AQI; others are believed to have slipped across the Iranian border, where they are said to have sanctuaries.

The figures put forward by Coffey and Lt. Col. Douglas Sims II, deputy commander of the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, for hard-core Iraqi AQI cadre is 50 to 60. The number of foreign fighters could be about half that number.

Iraqi army operations in Diyala province are being conducted by elements of the 5th Iraqi Army Division, which fought Shiite gunmen in the southern city of Basra in the spring and later took control of northern Sadr City in Baghdad.

=========================

Chris, I love you son. Hang tough and stay strong!

v/r,
- Collabman

Best of the Best...

Sgt. Wayne Racine, a field artillery surveyor with Charlie Battery, Fires squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, fires a round in the prone un-supported position during the Dragoon Warrior Competition at Forward Operating Base Warhorse located in the Diyala Province, Iraq. The competing Soldiers are required to fire in three different positions; prone supported, prone un-supported and the kneeling position.
(SPC Opal Vaughn/14th Public Affairs Detachment)

Your throat is dry and swallowing doesn’t help at all. It hurts to breathe because your lungs feel like they’re on fire. Beads of sweat roll down the temples of your forehead. Your boots feel like cement blocks as you slowly pick up one foot after another; each foot dragging against the rocky surface of the desert sand. The blisters on your feet scream in agony as they rub against the insides of your boots.

SPC Opal Vaughn/14th Public Affairs Detachment

Evening...

For those tracking...happy hump day. We can't have many more can we? Ok, maybe a few...

The info hounds tipped a story that was carried in an Iron Strong Daily titled Dragoon Warriors Test Mettle. I really enjoyed this read - imagine the effort put forth by the warriors who represented each squadron from the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment. Think the competition was keen? You know it...

Reread the opening para above...what more could we ask of these warriors?

Chris, I love you buddy!

Winding down and taking care of business...I couldn't be prouder son!

Be safe!

v/r,
- Collabman

--------------------------
Dragoon Warriors Test Mettle
Story and photos by:
SPC Opal Vaughn/14th Public Affairs Detachment

Your throat is dry and swallowing doesn’t help at all. It hurts to breathe because your lungs feel like they’re on fire. Beads of sweat roll down the temples of your forehead. Your boots feel like cement blocks as you slowly pick up one foot after another; each foot dragging against the rocky surface of the desert sand. The blisters on your feet scream in agony as they rub against the insides of your boots.

Can this be real? It’s 125 degrees outside and you are carrying over 60 pounds of gear meant to save a life. Now, imagine doing this every day except bullets are flying around you and your battle buddy is calling out for medical assistance and everywhere you step might be a possible Improvised Explosive Device.

This situation can be a reality and is the environment in which the Army trains its Soldiers.

A competition for bragging rights brought out some of 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment’s best of the best to showcase the training they received while deployed, during the Dragoon Warrior Competition at Forward Operating Base Warhorse located in the Diyala Province, Iraq.

Two-man teams were selected to represent each squadron at FOB Warhorse. “Each squadron was told to identify one non-commissioned officer and one lower enlisted Soldier to represent their unit in this competition,” said 2SCR regimental Command Sgt. Major Victor Martinez.

“Some squadrons chose to do boards, unit competitions and evaluations, to select their top Soldiers,” Martinez said. “The Soldiers involved will have to evaluate a casualty, qualify at the range, clear a house born improvised explosive device and a number of weapons tasks, just to name a few things.” In the past, most jobs in the Army consisted of field artillery, infantry or scouts. The new generation of Army has a healthy mix of Soldiers who work in many specialties. The same applies to the competitors for the Dragoon Warrior.

“There is a mix of medics, comm, infantry and supply Soldiers. They have no idea what to really expect,” said Martinez. “You don’t know if you’ll get hit by an Improvised Explosive Device or if you’re going to get shot at. The intent is to recreate what one might expect going outside the wire. There is no telling what could happen.”

“The Dragoon Warrior Competition is very physical,” Martinez stated. “These guys will be running all over the FOB to different locations. Each task is used to test the training knowledge these Soldiers have gained during this deployment. The faster that they get the tasks done the more points each team gets,” Martinez added.

Bragging rights for being the best can be a motivational booster for the competitors. “We all know Fires squadron is the best,” said Spc. Joseph Santoro, Company A, 5th Squadron, 2nd SCR.

“This competition is good for morale,” Santoro continued. “Each of us is rooting for our own unit to do well because we like a little competition. Some of the guys are coming here and looking real tired but they continue to press on because they want to be known as the best.”

Being known as the best and earning the title “Dragoon Warrior” is not for everyone though. “I’ve never competed in one of these competitions but I’ve been through plenty of boards to know that it can be tough,” said Staff Sgt. Kyle Stallings, Alpha Fires squad leader, 5th Squadron, 2nd SCR.

“Having NCO’s dually involved in the competition is a great way to build esprit de corps within the unit as well. If a lower enlisted Soldier sees me going through each task with him, he can be confident that as an NCO I lead from the front. And eventually he will continue the cycle when he becomes an NCO, knowing that his leadership is willing and able to do the same,” Stallings added.

Some of the events required during the competition are for one Soldier to act and the other to supervise. For example, evaluating a casualty requires one Soldier to perform first aid techniques on their teammate by giving them an IV.

At another station, the competitors practice their memorization skills while being put under intense stress. After which, the two Soldiers are required to then clear a house, laced with IED, an irate hostage and several booby traps throughout the house.

“The rifle qualification range is a big part of the competition too,” Stallings said. “The Soldiers are required to fire in three different positions; prone supported, prone un-supported and the kneeling position. All of the events are timed which adds stress to the already stressful environment.”

All of these tasks test the skills Soldiers use on a daily basis while deployed.

Each Soldier competing in the competition, hand selected by their individual squadron’s to showcase who the best really is ready, willing and able to bring on the competition. But there can only be one true “Dragoon Warrior.”

Platoon Sergeant, Staff Sgt. Ronis Gutierrez, with Charlie Battery, Fires squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment tries qualifying at the rifle range during the Dragoon Warrior Competition, at Forward Operating Base Warhorse located in the Diyala Province, Iraq.
(SPC Opal Vaughn/14th Public Affairs Detachment)


Staff Sgt. Christopher Coyle, a squad leader with 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, sits before a board of sergeant’s majors, answering questions that test his military knowledge. The board was just one of several tasks to complete as part of the Dragoon Warrior Competition at Forward Operating Base Warhorse located in the Diyala Province, Iraq.
(SPC Opal Vaughn/14th Public Affairs Detachment)

Black Widow...Update

Evening...

It remains very quiet on the news front for the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment. No photos or articles that I nor the info hounds could find.

On the 25th, Chris will celebrate his 2nd birthday on the ground in Iraq - he will turn 21. We are hoping for a phone call from him on his 21st birthday but we are not sure. Given that we haven't heard from him for almost two weeks his ops tempo may just not allow it. We shall see...

For those who are planning on sending an email wishing him a happy 21st birthday - thanks!

Last year I celebrated his birthday virtually with this blog:
20th Birthday...On the Streets of Baghdad...


As I stated in that blog...the pictures were his mother's idea ;-) (Really, they were...)

Tonight, I was tipped by Justin (thanks sir) to a video from CNN (Cal Perry) on how Iraqi authorities are working to train Iraqi women to help mitigate the problem of female suicide bombers. You may remember a number of blogs I wrote on the threat of Black Widows to Iraqi citizens, police forces and U.S. forces...

Black Widow...

Hunting...

Poised...

Here is the CNN video on the progress being made to counter this threat. If your browser is Firefox make sure you have the latest version (3.0.2) running to ensure the video loads and plays properly.

Confronting female suicide bombers




Additionally, I encountered a sister video from DVIDS that was produced by SSG Christina Harwell, 14th Public Affairs Detachment in Iraq. It is a B-roll about female Iraqi police cadets graduating from the Ashcroft Training Center in the Diyala province. This video includes interviews with:

-- CPT Melody Faulkenberry (US)

-- SFC Patricia Baiocchetti (US)

-----------------------------------

Chris, I love you buddy. Almost 21, eh? Wow!

I continue to pray for you everyday...you are always on my heart.

Be safe!

v/r,
- Collabman

Dragoon Rugby...

Rugby Football Club coach, Chief Warrant Officer Anthony Triola, Regimental Headquarters, Headquarters Troop, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, weaves through a hoard of players during a practice game of rugby at the soccer field at Forward Operating Base Warhorse located in the Diyala province, Iraq, Sept. 13, 2008.

Spc. Opal Vaughn
14th Public Affairs Detachment

Evening...

Is it October yet? Seems to me the month of September has come to a screeching halt, eh? I can't move the days along any faster so I will just have to adjust to this slow battle rhythm. This just goes with the territory...

As I sift through the news each night hunting for information on the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, I still grimace when I see Seven U.S. troops killed in Iraq helicopter crash. Even though it doesn't involve the 2nd SCR I still ache for the families and loved ones of this Team of Fallen Angels. That knock on the door that will come seven times...seven names in a roll call - each that will be answered with a deafening silence.

What appeared to be a routine helo convoy from Kuwait to Balad air base turned deadly in the black of night. A stark reminder that our warriors will remain in harm's way until the day they redeploy out of country...

I still remember the night the news broke on the loss of our Team of Fallen Angels. It took my breath away...

Never again will I be able to see a headline like the one above...without feeling some of the emotions that hit that night in January. I will always remember those six words from CPT Mike Stinchfield, Commander, Company H, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment - will you?

"Six KIA? Damn. Are you sure?"

I will never forget...

There was a video from a few weeks ago that I never got around to posting. So, if you're game, grab your NVGs (Night Vision Goggles) and ride along with 4th Squadron, 2nd SCR as they conduct a night raid to capture a suspected arms dealer in Baqubah, Iraq. You will get a feel for the inherent risk of operating under the cover of darkness as you hang out the open UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and scan the ground below through your NVGs. You can almost feel the warm, sultry air blowing against your face...



As the 2nd SCR prepares for redeployment, it is great to see them looking to the future. I stumbled across the article below which was carried via DVIDS. I think you will enjoy it...

Imagine playing rugby in the moon dust and heat of Iraq...yowsa!

Chris, we love you buddy! We are counting the days...

Be safe!

v/r,
- Collabman

Dragoon Rugby Football Club member, Spc. Chris Erikson, a Seattle native with Regimental Headquarters, Headquarters Troop, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, catches a rugby ball during a practice game of rugby at the soccer field at Forward Operating Base Warhorse located in the Diyala province, Iraq, Sept. 13, 2007. The DRFC, based out of Vilseck, Germany, is warming up for redeployment and for the new season to begin to play against other foreign national teams.

Spc. Opal Vaughn
14th Public Affairs Detachment

Dragoon Rugby Football Club Trains for Redeployment
By Spc. Opal Vaughn
14th Public Affairs Detachment

FORWARD OPERATING BASE WARHORSE, Iraq - William Webb Ellis was a boy who didn’t like the rules of football. Ellis is credited as the founder of rugby and now, a statue of Ellis stands at the intersection of Lawrence Sheriff Street and Dunchurch Road, at Rugby School in Rugby, Warwickshire England.

In 1823, during a football game, Ellis picked up the ball and took off running towards his opponent’s goal. And so, the game of ruby was born. At least that is how the popular story is told.

Over time, though the rules have changed since the early 1800’s, rugby has become a very popular sport and is played all around the world. It has become a pastime for many enthusiasts, including some Soldiers with 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment. These Soldiers form the Dragoon Rugby Football Club, which began out of Vilseck, Germany, and was brought to Iraq.

With redeployment nearing, the DRFC players got together and held a practice game at the soccer field at Forward Operating Base Warhorse located in the Diyala province, Iraq, Sept. 13, 2008.

“We have about 30 guys and two females that compose our team,” said DRFC member, Spc. Chris Erikson, a Seattle native with Regimental Headquarters, Headquarters Troop, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment.

“Obviously we can’t all get together and play as a team because we’re all spread across Iraq,” Erikson explained, referring to the DRFC, the official team for 2nd Str. Cav. Regt. “Chief Triola, he’s the coach. He has helped to get some of us together for practices. We’re starting to build the team back up so that as soon as we hit Germany we can start competing again,” Erikson smiled.

“I helped to start the Dragoon Rugby Football Club back in 2007 in appreciation for the game,” said DRFC coach, Chief Warrant Officer Anthony Triola, a senior intelligence technician with RHHT, Str. Cav. Regt.

“I’ve been playing for 20 years and I’ve been coaching for about five years now,” Triola stated. “We played our first season last year. But it was halted because of deployment. So when we initially started talking about getting the team back together, all the guys got real excited. The excitement is understandable. It means we’re about to redeploy.”

According to Erikson, the DRFC is part of a Bavarian league made up of all the club and league teams in the area. So the DRFC not only plays other U.S. teams, but plays many German rugby teams as well.

“It’s really fun to play some of the German teams because they always have these playing fields set up in the middle of nowhere,” Erikson grinned. “Besides, we all go out for drinks and stuff afterwards.”

Getting in shape and building the team back up before redeployment takes a lot of hard work, but it is something the team members are willing to work toward.

“Conditioning is the hardest part of rugby,” Triola stated. “Here in Iraq, a lot of us are tied to a desk. So getting outside and running gets us out of that mind set. But the dust that hangs in the air isn’t any help either.”

Triola continued: “They say that rugby is a hooligan sport played by gentlemen. I try to emphasize to these guys about the importance of letting out aggression on the field but do not get into any altercations. There’s no physical contact while here in Iraq because we need everyone to be able to do their jobs. But back in the rear, it’s full on contact.”

Getting back on the field in game mode takes a lot of effort too.

“The idea right now is to just do a little bit while still in country so that when we get to Germany we can hit the ground running,” Erikson stated. “We’re not as skilled or as crisp like some of the other teams we’ve played. But we work hard and play aggressively.”

The return home still remains to be the next milestone for the DRFC. But they are ready and willing to return to Germany and get in the game.

“Hopefully, when we get back we can start playing right away,” Erikson stated. “I look forward to the competition.”

Vivid Memories...

Pictures of the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the Pentagon, left, and the World Trade Center, right, are seen at a memorial ceremony for U.S. troops marking the seventh anniversary at Camp Liberty in Baghdad, on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008.
(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

"Part of me forgot just how young some of the soldiers fighting out here are, with all their gear on they seem much older than their years. The ones we were talking to were barely in their teens when 9/11 happened, too young to realize the global impact that day would have and how it would forever alter their lives."
Arwa Damon/CNN International

Evening...

It has been a while since I blogged, eh? Well, there just hasn't been much to write home about...and a call from Chris today confirmed what I suspected - it is quiet for the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment. So quiet that Chris is pretty bored...

Yes, he is doing well and ready to wrap it up...to get on the road...Chris is ready to head home. I expect your warrior has similar feelings. I am just as ready. The days are crawling by now but we can handle it...we've been through worse.

The photos and articles on the net today tell the story of other units working the neighborhoods of Baghdad, Mosul and elsewhere. I am thankful for their service and that they are getting the attention they deserve. The 2nd SCR had their time in the spotlight and our warriors performed superbly. It is almost time to move on. Our warriors have earned it...

Seven years ago...has it been that long? As I reflect back on 9/11, I returned to a morning that was almost surreal. I remember it clearly. San Diego...a business trip that had started with such great promise. It changed as soon as I saw the news that morning. Next, a long ride home in a rental car with Dave...lost in our thoughts. Our families - we couldn't wait to see them...to hold them close. Little did we know.

We were instantly at war that started with a sucker punch from radical extremists. Things would never be the same. My youngest son would be headed for Iraq...and a 15-month combat deployment with the 2nd SCR.

So, where were you? Are the memories as vivid for you as they are for me? I expect they are.

Did we have any clue how the world and our lives would be changed? That our paths would crisscross in a sandbox called Iraq? Never in our wildest dreams...

Chris, thanks for the phone call today. We are so glad you are doing well and looking forward to getting home...we too are ready!

Finish strong buddy...stay with it to the very end. Your buddies are depending on you to be there every step of the way.

I love you!

Be safe!

v/r,
- Collabman

=======================

September 11, 2008
“We are doing the best we can to prevent anything like that from happening ever again”

Arwa Damon | BIO
CNN International Correspondent

“Hot, its always hot…” the soldier responded, the collar of his flak jacket soaked in fresh sweat, mixed with that of months of patrolling. We’d only been out an hour, already drenched in sweat, and we’re only carrying about a third of the weight that the soldiers are. Two hours after they return to their base in downtown Baquba, they are out again, flak jackets still wet from the previous patrol. They live on a combat outpost. Sleep whenever they can, work out at the gym. There’s no TV and very little escape from combat. For these soldiers the routine of 9/11 will be like any other day.

We were just embedded with the 2nd SCR in Baquba, and among other stories we’re covering, we were also talking to young troops about 9/11.

Part of me forgot just how young some of the soldiers fighting out here are, with all their gear on they seem much older than their years. The ones we were talking to were barely in their teens when 9/11 happened, too young to realize the global impact that day would have and how it would forever alter their lives.

“I was in the 8th grade I think. Art class. I didn’t know what was going on, they just sent us home,” one of them told us.

And now seven years on, they know it. For some it prompted them to join the military. For all, it shaped their military career. They are in Iraq fighting America’s so-called “war on terror”, though many not really aware that Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11.

The guys are exhausted. You see it in their eyes, in the way that they move, in their speech that seems to be in slow motion. They’ve been here for 13 months now and its taking its toll. They joke about the next deployment being Afghanistan.

And in the words of one New Yorker, they want America to know something on 9/11.

“Just know that we are doing the best we can to prevent anything like that from happening ever again.”

Complicated...

U.S. soldiers with 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment walk past death notices written on black sheets in Jalula, where a suicide bomber killed 26 people last week.
Photo by Sean Kimmons/S&S


This week, U.S. soldiers from the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, headed to Jalula’s police station, near the emergency response force headquarters, to air theories of who they thought was behind the bombing. The incident, one of the worst attacks in Iraq in recent months, highlighted the complicated situation in northern Diyala province, where internal rivalries mix with Kurdish-Arab tension.
Sean Kimmons/S&S

Evening...

How many more hump days do we have and are you counting? Did you glance at the calendar over the holiday weekend?

Not much news on the wire about the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment. However, I did stumble across an article from the Stars and Stripes on the continued efforts of 3rd Squadron, 2nd SCR in the Diyala province.

Complicated...read the article below and note the words of LTC Coffey. Make no mistake, Diyala remains a tough area. Who better or more seasoned to work this area than the 2nd SCR?

Enjoy the article...

Chris, we continue to pray for you and your teammates. Stay focused, stay alert, stay strong.

I love you son!

Be safe!

v/r,
- Collabman


Police-hiring feud may have led to Diyala blast
By Sean Kimmons, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Thursday, September 4, 2008

JALULA, Iraq — Zuher Kader al-Kerwii stood in front of the scarred, burned police gate surrounded by rubble — a reminder of the suicide bomber that rammed it last week with an explosive-laden car, killing 26 and wounding 49.

It must have been an eerie task for the policeman, who clutched his AK-47 rifle while scanning the horizon. He was standing on the same spot where his uncle and two friends were killed in the Aug. 26 attack. A crowd of police recruits for the town’s emergency response force had been waiting outside the building to pick up uniforms and weapons when the attack occurred.

"It was a huge explosion," al-Kerwii said Monday.

"I am not scared," he said of future attacks. "I will continue to fight and take revenge for the loss of my brothers."

This week, U.S. soldiers from the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, headed to Jalula’s police station, near the emergency response force headquarters, to air theories of who they thought was behind the bombing. The incident, one of the worst attacks in Iraq in recent months, highlighted the complicated situation in northern Diyala province, where internal rivalries mix with Kurdish-Arab tension.

Some locals blamed disgruntled sheiks angry at how another local sheik handpicked Arab men from his tribe to be on the exclusive police force. The town’s police chief, Lt. Col. Ahmed Mohammad Khaleel, said the Sunni sheik swayed the unit’s commander to hire his men.

Khaleel went on to claim that the Sunni tribe had tried to put former al-Qaida fighters or sympathizers into the unit and gain control of the area’s checkpoints.

The next day, Maj. T.J. Siebold, the U.S. squadron’s operations officer, traveled to the headquarters to get Iraqis’ take on the bombing. Some of the unit’s officers hinted that Kurds were behind it in some way.

"They said Kurds weren’t directly involved but may have facilitated in the car bomb," said Siebold, 40, of Nashville, Tenn.

The squadron’s commander, Lt. Col. Rod Coffey, has heard plenty of exaggerated Kurdish and Arab views in his sector lately.

"I don’t necessarily believe everything they say," he said. "A lot of people right now are making false accusations."

However, Coffey did tell Khaleel on Monday that he’d try to get U.S. intelligence teams to screen alleged al-Qaida loyalists in the emergency response unit, which calmed the Iraqi commander down a bit. The U.S. troops also promised to look into the exact source of the bombing.

"We’ll develop this for weeks and weeks and find out who did it," said Coffey, 47, of Arnold, Md.

A soap opera of sorts continues to unfold in northern Diyala province, where strife between Kurds and Arabs has been mounting. Iraq’s Shiite-led government recently sent Iraqi troops to push out the Kurdish "Peshmerga" militia from the province after they refused to leave.

Near Jalula, the Peshmerga militia still controls the town of Khanaqin, while Iraqi soldiers have it surrounded. Kurdish leaders and the Iraqi government are currently in talks to handle the standoff without bloodshed.

"What we need to concentrate on is that no one does anything stupid," Coffey told Khaleel and other Kurdish officials. "We should all stay on the same side fighting al-Qaida and leave it to politics."

Coffey describes his sector as "complicated."

In 2007, violence peaked between Shiites and Sunnis. And before that, Kurds who were displaced under Saddam Hussein’s Arabization efforts moved back into northern Diyala, forcing many Arabs to move elsewhere.

Peshmerga fighters then advanced south and held positions to rid al-Qaida elements from the region. Coffey believes some Arabs sought al-Qaida protection out of fear of the emerging Kurdish influence.

"They don’t want to be absorbed or controlled by the Kurds," Coffey said, adding that his unit is looking into other reasons why some Arabs have supported al-Qaida.

On top of this, some Kurdish leaders assume Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s government is shoving Kurds out of the province for political reasons.

"Maliki hates the Kurds more than Saddam did," said a frustrated Khaleel.

Coffey quickly countered with a grin: "He’s got a long way to go to be as bad as Saddam."

OPFOR...

Evening...

Chris called yesterday morning and it was great to hear his voice and talk with him. His mother and I covered a lot of ground during our conversations and learned some details about a number of changes coming for him...here is what Chris shared:

Chris passed his board for promotion to Sergeant and is now in the promotable zone. Depending on how the points play out he could pin on as early as 1 October 2008. He was very excited about the promotion and increased responsibility - not to mention the extra $$$. He indicated he had prepared for the board and was ready with what they threw at him. I enjoyed hearing the details of the board as they brought back memories of my promotion boards while serving in the U.S. Marines. We are proud of Chris, just as we are very proud of Jake and Aaron, his two older brothers. All three are very special young men. We love all three of them more than words can express.

Chris also shared that he had been selected to join the 1-509th (Airborne) Infantry OPFOR (Opposing Force) unit at Fort Polk, Louisiana. Say what...what is an OPFOR and what will he be doing? Chris will use his 15 months of combat experience in Iraq to provide contingency training for the Army's light infantry and special operations forces preparing for future deployments. He will be part of the OPFOR unit which plays the role of the enemy during war game scenarios. His unit, the OPFOR, will employ current tactics, techniques and procedures (TTP) providing realistic, stressful, and challenging combat conditions for Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) units prior to their deployment.

There are three Major Training Centers that utilize home-based OPFOR units for the US Army:

• The National Training Center or NTC at Fort Irwin, California - home unit is the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment or BLACKHORSE
  
  
• The Joint Readiness Training Center or JRTC at Fort Polk, Louisiana - home unit is the 1st Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment or GERONIMOS
  
  
• The Joint Multinational Readiness Center or JMRC (formerly known as the Combat Maneuver Training Center or CMTC) at Hohenfels, Germany - home unit is the 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment (Separate) or WARRIORS

What does an OPFOR do during the scenario? Chris' unit will conduct similar TTPs that the 2nd SCR encountered in Iraq. I expect you have become familiar with these tactics and their acronyms during our journey...

• Cell structure with mobile, dispersed C2: Every soldier must understand Regional Leader's intent, priority information requirements (PIR), and high payoff targets (HPT).
• Civilian clothes, weapons cached; blend with local populace and civilians on the battlefield
• Communicate by cell phone, messenger, and walk about radio
• Improvised explosive devices (IED), vehicle-borne IEDs, Mortar/Rocket Attacks, RPG/Small Arms Attacks, Suicide Attacks
• Aggressive Information Warfare Campaign

If Chris and the next OPFOR unit can replicate realistic, chaotic combat operations and help save a U.S. Army warrior's life through this training...I am all for it. I know Chris is excited and looking forward to the opportunity - I am too. Oh, don't worry...there will be no blog to suffer through :-)

If you are interested, here is a video that was made some two years ago as the US Army began to apply what was being learned in Iraq as part of realistic training conducted at the JRTC, Fort Polk, Louisiana. One look at the video and this will all make sense...

So, what does the future hold for your warrior? I continue to pray for all of the warriors serving with the 2nd SCR. Some will remain with the unit, others will move on to another unit and some will leave the military to begin a new life. Regardless of their decisions they will forever be in my heart...I will never forget.

Before I close, let me leave you with some current news on the 2nd SCR as they continue to take care of business in Iraq. This one is about Eagle Company, 2nd Squadron, 2nd SCR...

Chris, I love you son!

Be safe!

v/r,
- Collabman


Some troops say Iraqis need to do more
Story and photos by Sean Kimmons, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition
Tuesday, September 2, 2008

(See photos at end of story)

TAHRIR, Iraq — As Iraqi security forces continue to take the lead on missions in much of the country, the U.S. military has generally — and deliberately — slipped into the background.

But at an irritable area bordering Baqouba, where there are fears that recent gains made by an Iraqi-led offensive could be lost, the opposite has happened.

Manpower issues and a perceived lack of initiative by Iraqi police have forced soldiers with Company E, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, out of Vilseck, Germany, to patrol Tahrir mainly alone.

U.S. soldiers conduct daily missions in the town to keep the peace and deter enemies from trickling back. Local Iraqi police tend to hold down checkpoints at safer locations on the outskirts, soldiers say.

"It is frustrating," said Capt. Solon Webb, company commander, adding he has to focus more time spreading out his forces than targeting high-value targets.

Intelligence gathering has also been a difficult process with the scarce Iraqi police, whose police chief is a major sitting in a colonel slot, a two rank difference, he said.

"It’s not as free flowing," said Webb, 32, of Walnut Creek, Calif. "I still get the same amount but I have to work twice as hard to get it."

Iraqi police Maj. Sa’ad, the police chief of Tahrir, said he has only 122 policemen and needs twice that number to cover his jurisdiction.

"Tahrir is a big area. We need more IPs," Sa’ad said through a translator. "I need 250 to be ready to control this area."

He’s working on bringing more into his force, he said.

Sa’ad also denied that his policemen were avoiding the U.S. soldiers. "We always join with coalition forces and cooperate with them," he said. "If they need anything we help them."

Last week, soldiers held a knock-and-search raid in a troublesome sector of Tahrir. In the searches, which they call "block parties," soldiers asked Iraqis of any suspicious activity in the area and then snooped around the homes.

Second Lt. Richard Faille, 23 of Beverly, Mass., led his platoon of soldiers in the searches without police support despite inviting them.

Though he and his soldiers would prefer to do operations alone, their main mission is to bolster the Iraqi security forces so U.S. troops can leave the country, he said.

"They’re difficult to work with but it’s necessary," Faille said of the Iraqi police.

"We try to give them support and confidence," a hard thing to do when they don’t show up for joint missions, he added.

Many of the Iraqi police officers in town are Muslim and will be fasting during Ramadan, which begins Tuesday, said Webb, who predicted that fewer will show up for work.

In June, violence surged in Tahrir with suicide bombings, shootings and roadside bombs. The largely Sunni town, next to Diyala province’s governance center and its Iraqi police headquarters in Baqouba, became a popular hangout for insurgents.

"It’s an area where people love to prove a point," Webb said.

Iraqi security forces led an offensive starting in late July that cleared the area and got rid of U.S.-funded "Sons of Iraq" fighters. The city of roughly 75,000 residents was then left to U.S. soldiers and a limited supply of Iraqi police.

"I fear if we keep it sparse, the next couple of months could see an increase of enemy activity," Faille said. He said he has heard plans to boost the town’s Iraqi police numbers in the near future.

With or without the Iraqi police, Webb vows not to let the town fall into enemy’s hands.

"We won’t let it happen," he said. "We’re not going to give up this fight."

A platoon leader with E Company, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, asks an Iraqi man questions on security in Tahrir on Thursday. The mission was intended to be a joint effort with Iraqi police, but none showed up. An Iraqi girl waves to a soldier as other soldiers with E Company, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, interview the adults of the household (background) about security issues in Tahrir. Iraqi children curiously watch on as soldiers with E Company, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, search homes during a knock-and-search raid in Tahrir. A soldier with E Company, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, secures the area as other soldiers ask an Iraqi man (left) questions on security in Tahrir. Staff Sgt. Matthew Beaudette, 27, of Ocala, Fla., with E Company, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, clears an Iraqi home during a knock-and-search raid in Tahrir. A platoon leader with E Company, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, asks an Iraqi teenager if there are concerns with security in Tahrir. Iraqis look on as soldiers with E Company, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, exit a home during a knock-and-search raid in Tahrir. Soldiers with E Company, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, enter an Iraqi home during a knock-and-search raid in Tahrir.