Site Essentials
- » Site Introduction
- » Comment Policy
- » Stryker Brigade 101
- » FAQ
- » Thank The Troops
- » Support Our Site
- » Contact Us
- » Terms & Conditions
In Memoriam
Browse Archives
Search Archives
Subscribe to SBN
Browse Our Shop
Awards
Link to Full Article
Anchorage Daily News
. . . (I) leave the FOB (forward operating base) pretty much on a daily basis. For the most part, however, it seems, especially of late, to be a rather routine and doldrums activity. ...We tend to go to so many of the same places over and over, that it is hard not to get 'routine.'
Generally, traveling with the battalion commander ... leads us to Iraqi police stations, or to town figurehead houses (i.e. mayors, muktars, etc.). Being that his role has to be very diplomatic, my job turns into listening to these people complain to him about this problem or that.
Rarely do we just do a 'regular' patrol -- drive in and around the neighborhoods of our sector. That is more of a treat for us. ... To most people that sounds crazy. I get questions from friends and relatives back home to the effect of 'you actually want to go out and possibly get shot at?!?' What they fail to realize is that I am a part of an occupational skill whose litmus test is how well we perform during contact. I have trained for a good part of eight years now, specifically for war. The soldiers now want to prove themselves. It was the same back at the beginning of the war. ...