Posted on 01/07/2004 7:29:05 AM PST by Ragtime Cowgirl
Task Force 1st Armored Division’s bulldog fire support element
BAGHDAD, Iraq – After approximately eight months in Baghdad, soldiers of 1st Armored Division have realized that there is more to their role in the Army than their military occupational specialties.
Most soldiers have taken on additional duties to support the overall mission in Iraq – from providing driver and gunner support on convoys to pulling guard at their forward operating bases.
The Fort Riley, Kansas, based 3rd Brigade Combat Team’s (BCT) fire support element is one example of those countless teams of soldiers who do what it takes to complete the mission.
Maj. Clark Taylor, 3rd BCT’s Fire Support Officer, said his Soldiers do it all: The work in the brigade’s civil-military operations, public affairs and information operations sections; they are special projects officers; they assist in the management of the brigade commander’s emergency relief project (CERP) fund; they work with the brigade intelligence section on the targeting process of anti-Coalition Forces; they guard the 3rd BCT forward operating base, drive and serve as gunners for convoys, and even serve on kitchen patrols.
“Maj. Clark Taylor has become my ‘go to’ officer on the brigade staff. He is versatile and innovative, and has made immeasurable impacts to our combat, stability and security mission here in Baghdad, and the surrounding provinces,” said Col. Russ Gold, 3rd BCT commander. “His efforts along with his ‘gang of gunners’ has dramatically improved the quality of life for Iraqi citizens and more importantly, has saved our soldiers lives.” On top of everything else, the soldiers are still accomplishing their fire support mission.
For “a minimum of 18 hours a day for eight months, without a day off,” these soldiers “are responsible for most of the successful counter-fire missions (1st Armored Division) has shot,” Taylor said. The Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System allows the soldiers to monitor Baghdad’s artillery activity from the brigade tactical operations center (TOC).
If an attack requiring counter-fire occurs, the fire support element (FSE) calls the 1st Armored Division FSE and division artillery to get approval and clear the airspace. Approval is inevitably required from the brigade command group, but the mission is still sent to the Howitzers to prepare to fire.
“That way once we get the okay all they have to do is drop the round in (and fire),” said Staff Sgt. Dennis Kelley, a fire support sergeant with 3rd BCT.
Getting the guns ready before receiving the approval avoids fumbling around and lowers the enemy’s chance of escape, said brigade fire support specialist, Spc. Paul Hammer. If the target is not clear for fire, an end of mission report is sent, Kelley added.
The Bernie, Missouri, native said they, along with the firing batteries, have performed counter-fires in as little as four minutes after receiving the mission.
Hammer said he and the other soldiers in the section rotate in to work fire support one out of every three weeks.
“The rest of the time we’re outside of the TOC serving as drivers and gunners for Maj. Taylor, whether it’s taking him to his (district advisory council) meeting … his (civil-military operations) meeting … or his (information operations) meeting,” the Mesa, Arizona, native continued. Despite all of the additional duties, these soldiers aren’t sent blindly into the wild.
“The leaders are not going to just throw us out there,” Kelley said. “They make sure we have the proper training.” With all the work that needs to be done, Taylor said he could never do it without his soldiers.
“They handle (everything else) so I can focus on what has to get done,” Taylor said. Taylor said he couldn’t ask for a better group doing the job.
“They never complain, they always put a smile on my face and they accomplish the mission,” Taylor said. “All soldiers (in Iraq) have proven why we’re the best Army in the world. It’s my honor to work with them.”
...“The rest of the time we’re outside of the TOC serving as drivers and gunners."
"They never complain, they always put a smile on my face and they accomplish the mission,” Taylor said. “All soldiers (in Iraq) have proven why we’re the best Army in the world. It’s my honor to work with them.”
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1st Armored Division, ping!
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