Posted on 08/19/2009 4:44:45 PM PDT by SandRat
Spc. Danell Williams, of Leamington, N.C., welds a steel plate to the inside bed of an Iraqi Security Force pickup truck at Forward Operating Base Hammer, Aug. 18. Photo by Pvt. Jared N. Gehmann, 3rd Brigade Combat Team.
BAGHDAD — As security improves here, U.S. forces are patrolling the streets much less. But behind the scenes, U.S. Paratroopers are helping their Iraqi partners in other ways.
While tactical improvements are evident, some Iraqi Security Force (ISF) units still lack sufficient protection needed during mounted movements throughout the capital city.
In an effort to support the combat strength of the ISF, Paratroopers assigned to Company B, 82nd Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad are applying steel armor to ISF pickup trucks at Forward Operating Base Hammer, about 30 miles east of Baghdad.
The program, which began last March at the unit's metal shop, has a target goal of armoring 30 trucks.
Upon completion, the trucks are given back to Iraqi Army and Federal Police personnel in order to provide them protection during mounted operations.
"When we add the armor to the trucks, we mainly focus on the bed and the passenger cab because that's where the Iraqi Soldiers will be riding," said Spc. Dustin Petty, of Nashville, Tenn., a metalworker assigned to Company B. "We also added three mounts in the truck bed, one toward the front and two in the back in order for them to place machine guns like the M240 Bravo.”
Petty said the upgrades to the trucks require a lot of hard, physical labor. He said one of the problems the team ran into was adding armor on the doors.
"At first, we wanted to put thicker steel plates lining the doors but then realized that they would weigh too much, so we ended up using a lighter steel plate," said Petty.
The program has also allowed members of Company B to mentor and cross-train with those who are not traditional welders. This cross training has allowed the company to accomplish the mission more efficiently and help Paratroopers pick up a new and useful skill.
Spc. Danell Williams, of Leamington, N.C., a light-wheel mechanic with Company B, is trying his skill at metal work on this project.
"I had never done any welding, grinding, or metalwork before, but once we started this project one of the guys taught me to weld and I got the hang of it really quick; now it's what I do every day," he said.
So far the team has completed 23 trucks at the pace of about one a week.
"I am very proud of myself and the team for all the hard work they have put into this project," said Williams. "This is my first deployment and I have never worked so hard in my life. I can't wait to see the ISF put these trucks to good use."
Airborne All The Way!!!
All The Way And Then Some!!!
Steel Wheels...
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