Home » Archives » "Eye in the Sky"

Eye in the Sky

Oct- 2-2006 » Filed Under: 3/2 SBCT

by Pfc. Bryanna Poulin, 25th ID Div PAO

MOSUL, Iraq (September 27, 2006) —Without putting lives of Soldiers in harms way an “eye in the sky” helps commanders stay one step ahead of the enemy by providing insight on insurgent activity in Mosul, Iraq.

Providing an over watch for the safety of Soldiers, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle are fundamentally used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance roles.

“When Soldiers walk outside the wire the only protection they have is one another,” stated Sgt. Edward C. Powell, mission commander, Company D, 1st Squadron, 14 Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division at Forward Operating Base Marez, Mosul, Iraq and a native of Emporia, Va. “UAV puts us one step ahead of the enemy.”

According to the Department of Defense an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle is a powered, aerial vehicle that does not require a human operator. The UAV’s use aerodynamic forces to provide vehicle lift. They can fly autonomously or be piloted remotely, and can carry a lethal or non-lethal payload.

With an expenditure of $750,000 the Army depends on these small, unmanned aerial vehicles to be an additional asset for battalion commanders planning maneuvers.

“They provide insight about potential activity that can occur during a mission,” Powell said. “It’s a necessity for commander’s to know activity of the enemy and what’s going on.”

While some of these UAVs can be easily carried in a backpack and launched by hand, they typically require a team of skilled Soldiers on the ground, and perform only short-term tasks individually rather than sustained missions in coordinated groups.

Soldiers of Co.D, 1st Sqdn., 14th Cav.Rgt are the eyes for the remote-controlled aircrafts that are becoming an indispensable asset for the overall fight in theater.

Assessing the area while in the flight enables the upper hand for any potential risks troops encounter.

“Aerial Vehicles help save lives,” concluded Powell. “Although they can’t stop the opponent, it provides air coverage for the units.”


Advertisements