Georgia Guard Troops Provide Convoy Security

Defend America News ^ | Jan 23, 2006 | Staff Sgt. Britt Smith

[SandRat]

A 48th Brigade Combat Team convoy waits their turn to leave on another supply convoy traveling south towards Baghdad, Iraq. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Britt Smith
Georgia Guard Troops Provide Convoy Security
After six month of combat operations in southwest Baghdad, soldiers of the 48th Brigade Combat Team were tasked with a new mission: "Convoy Escort Duty."
By U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Britt Smith 48th Brigade Combat Team CAMP ADDER, AN NASIRIYAH, Iraq, Jan. 23, 2006 — In war, the supply line is the lifeblood of an army; a fighting military can not sustain itself without the necessary supplies to function on a daily basis. The beans and bullets must be moved regardless of combat, weather or any obstacle that stands in the way of a well-sustained U.S. Army. "It's very important, we make sure the supplies get through. We do this (drive) so that the soldiers can fight and not worry about supplies." U.S. Army Sgt. Ann Bielefeld In order to free up American troops so that they can take the fight to the enemy and to help Iraq rebuild itself into a democratic nation, convoys in Iraq are manned by contract drivers hired by companies to move the supplies where they are needed.  Iraq is still a country where the enemy wants to stop any progress towards freedom and convoys pose an easy target for their hit and run tactics.  The 48th Brigade Combat Team from the Georgia Army National Guard deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  After six months of combat operations in southwest Baghdad in an area that is known by the locals as the "Triangle of Death," the 48th Brigade Combat Team conducted hundreds of combat patrols, discovered large and dangerous weapon caches and made dangerous neighborhoods safer for their residents. Then, the brigade received new orders and a change of mission: they were to conduct "Convoy Escort Duty" for the hundreds of supply trucks that travel the highways of Iraq every day. The new mission is as different from conducting offensive operations as could be, yet it is very similar in one respect, the 48th Soldiers are back in their old area of operations driving up armored trucks but rather than looking for the enemy they are keeping the enemy away from them and their cargo. This is a job that brings many elements of danger into play, driving, night and day, running on some of the worlds most dangerous roads and attempting to keep large convoys together and moving as one and on time. The term "herding cats" is often used to describe the difficulty of keeping these long lines of tractor trailers moving in the same direction.  This job falls to a relatively small number of soldiers who make up the crews of the gun trucks, where each person has a job to perform --  everything from driving to manning the crew-served weapon that travels with each truck.  Despite the dangers faced, the crews know just how important their jobs are. U.S. Army Sgt. Ann Bielefeld,	U.S. Army Spc. Bradley Arrowwood (front) and Spc. Andrew Todd, assigned military police duties with the 48th Brigade Combat Team, wait in their gun turrets for the word to move out as another convoy prepares to roll. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Britt Smith assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 48th Brigade Combat Team, and a college student from Alpharetta, Ga., serves as both a team medic and a driver who knows her part makes a difference. "It's very important, we make sure the supplies get through," said Bielefeld.  "We do this (drive) so that the soldiers can fight and not worry about supplies."  Bielefeld, who is no stranger to the driving hazards of Iraq, got her experience as a member of the 48th Brigade commander's personal security detachment. The job of providing security for the commander involved frequent trips through some of the roughest spots Baghdad has to offer. "We went wherever he did; if he drove, we drove and we did what it took to keep him safe and in command." Coordinating the missions for the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 48th Brigade Combat Team crews falls to the company executive officer, 1st Lt. Sharolett Mills, a Conyers, Ga., resident who is also very aware of the importance of their mission. "We move class one, which is mainly food, and keeping the troops fed is a very vital role which we are proud to do," Mills said.  Though not offensive in terms of war fighting, escort duty is modern combat, a fight without frontlines and a war fought by both men and women; it is equal opportunity danger for all.  As the supplies never stop moving, the convoy escort teams never stop and are right there with the convoys, ensuring they get through safely and on time.

[SandRat]

GA Bulldog State Guard PING!

[herewego]

Thanks for posting that, we have several in The 48th from our little area.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT