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Civil affairs Soldiers take on big task

Jun-23-2004 » Filed Under: Iraq News

It looks like there is a public affairs detachment visiting the 416th CAB right now.

[Link to Full Article]
By Spc. Blair Larson
139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

MOSUL, Iraq (USASOC News Service, June 21, 2004) — When the second wave of troops came to support Operation Iraqi Freedom, there was concern over how so few people would be able to take the place of so many. For 20 Soldiers from the 416th Civil Affairs Battalion, replacing 200 Soldiers has been a challenging, but rewarding task.

The 416th, from Norristown, Pa., originally took over in northern Iraq from the 404th Civil Affairs Battalion, from Fort Dix, N.J., with only 12 Soldiers tasked to continuing performing the same civil affairs missions the 200 Soldiers from the 404th were conducting.

“When we first got here, we moved the Civil Military Operations Center and the Tactical Operations Center into one building so one group could cover both operations,” said Lt. Col. Ken Herwehe, the Officer in Charge of northern operations for the 416th.

“To accomplish our mission here, each person performs about five jobs,” Herwehe said.

Since then, the 416th has found other ways of making themselves look bigger. After arriving in country, eight more civil affairs Soldiers were attached to the battalion, bringing the number to 20.

A civil affairs battalion would usually be attached to a higher brigade, which would provide support such as meals, laundry and transportation. The 416th is operating as a separate entity, with the Soldiers pitching in to do these jobs themselves.


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