Stryker Brigade News

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DEO Meeting Held on FOB Endurance

FOB ENDURANCE, IRAQ – Task Force (TF) Automatic met with District Election Officials (DEO) from five of the most populated villages in Ninewah Province on Forward Operating Base (FOB) Endurance yesterday, August 5th, to discuss the advent of Iraqi voters registration and elections.

The meeting, lasting just under an hour, discussed the security plan for the local polling sites during voters registration. All Iraqi’s, ages 18 and above, will be eligible to register from August 8th to the 31st. Local schools will be used as polling sites and will be secured by the Iraqi Army (IA) and Iraqi police.

“The meeting went very well,” said Cpt. Richard Crosby, TF Automatic Plans Officer. “The officials are ready to get the process underway as soon as a security and protection plan is well established.”

“What we’re concentrating on most is that the registration and voting process displays an Iraqi face, where Coalition forces play only a support and supervisory role,” said Crosby.

The villages present at the meeting were Gware, Ash Shura, and Al Hadr, represented by Khaled Ratou Bahue, Najim Hasan, and Ali Akhmed Saleh. Qayarrah and Jedda also had a representative present at the meeting.

Iraqi Army Reports Partially Detonated IED to TF Automatic

TAL AZBAH, IRAQ – Task Force (TF) Automatic’s explosive ordinance demolition (EOD) Team 6 responded to a post blast yesterday in Tal Azbah along ASR Richmond, which was reported by Iraqi Army’s 1/3rd Battalion.

Team 6, led by Master Sgt. Charles Lee, confirmed that an IED had detonated earlier that morning but there were two remaining explosives that had not detonated.

TF Automatic’s quick reaction force (QRF) established security while Lee and his team conducted an initial recon using the Talon robot. The recon identified two partially detonated 130 mm illumination projectiles in a pile of gravel. After removing both projectiles from their emplacement, they searched the area for possible secondary devices.

The team remotely placed a 5-pound drop charge on the gravel pile in order to possibly find another device. No other devices found, the leader donned the bomb suit and was driven to the site. Lee recovered the projectiles and conducted a hasty search for secondary devices with negative results.

The team returned to FOB Endurance and placed the projectiles in a holding area pending disposal.

1/3rd Iraqi Army Battalion Detains 11 Suspected Terrorists

NINEVAH, IRAQ – 1/3rd Iraqi Army Battalion, commanded by Brig. Gen. Ali Atala Mallowh, conducted flash TCPs along route Atlanta yesterday, detaining 11 suspected terrorists, two of which tested positive when vapor traced for IED remnants.

Due to a recent increase in IED activity in Ali’s area of operations, he collected several intelligence reports and executed the direct action mission accordingly. He and his soldiers conducted a hasty planning session and executed the unilateral mission successfully.

Adjacent unit coordination was made between 1/3rd IA and 1-5 Infantry (IN) Battalion. The two units shared intelligence that led to a joint target being captured by Ali for 1-5 IN.

“It was a perfectly timed and executed operation,” commented Maj. Chris Cardoni, Task Force (TF) Automatic’s Operations Officer. “Brig. Gen. Ali properly positioned his men at the necessary TCPs, directing them to commence their target searches at the specified time.”

The 11 individuals were from the villages of Az Zawiyah, Tal Azbah, Al Hawd, Ar Rasif, and Surits. All are currently in Task Force Automatic’s detention facility for further questioning.

Makhmur Plays IA-TF Automatic Team in New Stadium

MAKHMUR, Iraq – Task Force (TF) Automatic and soldiers from the Iraqi Army joined together against a Makhmur team in a soccer match yesterday August 1st, celebrating Makhmur’s brand new sports stadium opening.

The new $46,000 sports complex consists of a leveled playing field, bleachers, covered patio, and several cement buildings to include bathrooms, showers, and a snack bar.

“Before the stadium was built, the area was just a pile of large rocks and rubble,” explained Capt. Jon Jacobson of the TF Automatic civil affairs team. “The construction was done by a local contractor. That’s something we try to do with most projects: hire local contractors and local help.”

Several people attended the celebration. 3rd Iraqi Army Battalion Commander and Executive Officer, Lt. Col. Hogger Salahaddin Abdul and Lt. Col. Dildar Jameel Mohammed Doski were there with their soldiers. Mayor of Makhmur Abdul Rahman also attended, as well as several members of the city council.

“It was a great time spent in Makhmur,” said Lt. Col. Bradley Becker, TF Automatic Commander. “We always enjoy spending time there because they take care of their village and their people, it’s very clean, and the food is great.”

Ash Shura Comes Together for Area Security Council Meeting

ASH SHURA, Iraq – The monthly Ash Shura Area Security Council meeting took place on July 31th in Ash Shura. Topics covered during the meeting included the security, civil affairs projects, and schools.

“Over 40 local leaders were in attendance, with additional military and police personnel,” said Second Lt. Joe Swisher, 2/D-52 Platoon Leader.

D-52 Infantry Company Commander, Cpt. Thaddeus Wojtusik, opened the meeting discussing the many good things that have happened in the region during the past month. Successes included the local law enforcement making headway in the fight against terrorists, as well as several civil affairs projects in the works.

The first litigious issue raised during the meeting concerned security. Ash Shura Mayor Khalif spoke of the importance of local leaders working hand in hand with the Iraqi Army and Iraqi police force.

Former Mayor Sabah also spoke at the meeting. “Recently relieved of his position last February, he was hoping to be re-elected as Mayor in the upcoming months,” explained First Lt. Drew Godwin, 1/D-52 Platoon Leader.

The remaining issues brought up during the monthly meeting involved civil affairs projects. Many of the local leaders were not there to discuss security, as has been the case in the past, but to ensure their consideration and status for project funding. There were many questions concerning money paid and money to be paid.

The meeting was laconic, only lasting 45 minutes, but very effective with numerous issues resolved. Wajtusik and his company continue to work with the IA, the local police stations and key leaders of Ash Shura to improve their safety, economy and living conditions.

Third Iraqi Army NCOA Class Begins

FOB ENDURANCE, Iraq – On July 25th Task Force (TF) Automatic began the third Iraqi Army (IA) Non-Commissioned Officer Academy (NCOA) class on FOB Endurance, enhancing leadership capabilities of the IA and preparing them to assume the counter-insurgency fight.

At the NCOA, soldiers are given the opportunity to learn general NCO duties such as map reading, guard duty, first aid and basic rifle marksmanship. They also learn leadership responsibilities such as Iraqi Army values, Law of War, equal opportunity, effective communi-cations and ethics and professional standards. Military decision making process (MDMP), mission analysis and mission essential task list (METL) concepts are also taught during the 3-week course.

TF Automatic has graduated several IA basic training and NCOA classes at its IA training facility on FOB Endurance since the beginning of 2005. Just over 50 soldiers from the 1st, 2nd and 3rd IA Battalions, as well as soldiers from Hammam Al Alil outside of 3rd Brigade, will graduate from the NCOA next month. The eleven TF Automatic trainers will relish in their 1-day off before they begin their next IA basic training course.

“The Iraqi soldiers begin their training with three days of rifle marksmanship followed by a three-day first aid field training exercise,” says NCOA Chief Instructor Sgt. First Class Thomas Trott. “This coming week’s main event will be the obstacle course.”