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Arctic Wolves Work With Fellow Fort Wainwright Soldiers in Diyala

Jun- 6-2009 » Filed Under: 1/25 SBCT

Story by Spc. Anthony Jones

DIYALA, Iraq - In Diyala province, Soldiers of the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division are getting a little help from above, Cavalry style.

The brigade is receiving support from the 6th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment who is also from Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

The 6-17 cavalry unit flies OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter. The Kiowa Warrior is a dual purpose surveillance and attack aircraft. The aircraft is able to mount several different weapons systems onboard, including .50 caliber machine guns and unguided rockets.

"Our mission here is to provide aerial recon and surveillance capabilities for U.S. and coalition forces throughout the area of operations," said Capt. Robert Crouse, commander, Troop A, 6-17 Cav.

Crouse's troop is tasked with supporting two of Multi-National Division - North's brigades, the 1-25 and the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division based at Contingency Operating Base Spiecher.

"When we first got to Iraq the 1-25 wasn't here yet. When 1-25 did get here it was a good change of pace," said 1st Lt. Justin Kelly, a platoon leader and pilot with Troop A, 6-17 Cav. "It's really nice to work with these guys, it seems they are on top of their game. It's also nice to know when you're flying around supporting the ground guys they're your neighbors and friends from back home."

Working together isn't anything new for the two units. In 2006 the 6-17 Cav. was moved from Hawaii to Alaska in order to prepare the 1st and 4th Brigades, 25th Infantry Division for Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, said Maj. Beau Tibbets, 1-25 SBCT Brigade Aviation Officer and former troop commander in the 6-17.

"To my understanding the move was made because we had 1-25 and 4-25 in Alaska but no attack or recon assets for them to train with. So the 6-17 moved up there and started training," said Tibbets. "It worked out great, now we are both deployed at approximately the same time and mutually supporting each other."

In order to better support ground units in Diyala and Multinational Division – North the 6-17 is also operating in hunter killer teams or "pink teams" with units of the 1st Battalion 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, said Chief Warrant Officer Two Gunter Lugg. A "pink team" is a Kiowa Warrior working in tandem with an AH-64 Apache, providing the surveillance capabilities of the Kiowa Warrior with the firepower of the larger Apache.

"The command has found that for operations in Diyala, pink teams have provided a greater advantage. Providing longer station times and optimum capability to take out targets," said Lugg.

The 1-25 and 6-17, are taking the Army's battle buddy program and using it on a large scale. They are building relations not just between the Soldiers themselves but between units; building esprit de corps and brotherhood.


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