-PATCH United States Division-South Weekly Newsletter
Volume 3, Issue 29
Contingency Operating Base Basra, Iraq
August 1, 2011
Preparing for the worst Spc. Robert Gage, 912th Forward Surgical Team, treats a patient during a largescale mass medical emergency exercise conducted on COB Basra July 22.
Story and photo by Sgt. Jeremy Spires 36th Inf. Div., USD-S Public Affairs
BASRAH, Iraq – In the wake of enemy attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq and Afghanistan, personnel on Contingency Operating Base Basra joined together during a mock attack to help prepare for a possible worst-case scenario. This quarterly mass medical emergency event simulated an indirect fire attack and gauged the effectiveness of the first responders and the base medical sections. “One of the things that we really concentrated on during this scenario is encompassing multiple personnel, situations and locations,” said Capt. Erik D. Sateren, the base defense operations center and mass-casualty training officer in charge for the 36th Infantry Division. Almost anybody can tell you that having a plan to get injured people to a medical facility is common sense, but actually having
that plan rehearsed over and over again never crosses their minds, he added. The day started with a simulated call stating that the ammunitions depot and the operating room at the Troop Medical Clinic were “hit” with indirect fire, which forced the medical unit to set up a makeshift operating room for any incoming patients. Ten minutes later the base was once again “attacked” with indirect fire, this time in the living areas of Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Teams, 1st Cavalry Division. A number of Soldiers were “wounded” during this mock attack and required treatment, testing the ability of not only the medics located in the living area but also fellow Soldiers who happened to stumble across them. “This training will give us a realistic response should an event like this actually occur,” said Staff Sgt. Carlton Moore, a
medic for the Texas-based cavalry unit, who as a battalion medic evaluated the first responders on the scene. Most of the personnel living on Camp Delta are first-time deployers and this training will help their unit gauge their reactions, he added. From Delta, a number of “patients” were transported to the TMC where the medical personnel from the 297th Area Support Medical Company and the 912th Forward Surgical Team treated their injuries and transported them to the flight line for evacuation to a treatment facility better suited to handle their needs. We want to make sure that every time we do this sort of training we learn from our mistakes, said Sateren. “We try and encompass every aspect at every level,” he added, “to make sure what is done is very realistic … and see what we have as far as our abilities to handle that situation.”
Cpl. Khai M. Tran and Cpl. Kelly M. Doyle, Army Reserve Soldiers in the 414th Civil Affairs Battalion, Southfield, Mich., return from one of their localnational escort missions in support of the U.S. State Department and consulate general at Contingency Operating Base Basra July 26. Tran and Doyle have completed more than 300 missions and logged over 1,500 miles since arriving here in December.
Corporals taking charge Story and photo by Spc. Brittany H. Gardner 362nd MPAD, USD-S Public Affairs
BASRAH, Iraq – It’s not every day corporals get to be in charge, but these two young Soldiers are trusted with that responsibility daily here at Contingency Operating Base Basra. Cpl. Khai M. Tran, 19, and Cpl. Kelly M. Doyle, 21, both Reserve Soldiers in the 414th Civil Affairs Battalion out of Southfield, Mich., are in charge of planning and coordinating local-national escort missions for the U.S. State Department. “We are the military-support element for the State Department and the consulate general here,” Tran said. “We are their liaison between them and the military to coordinate and plan whatever they need to do their mission.” Although there are about ten service members in this support element, Tran and Doyle have been working as a team on a daily basis for more than seven months providing escort missions to people visiting the State Department facility. Together, they have escorted more than 1,000 visitors onto COB Basra since they arrived, said Doyle. The
“We’ve been here since Christmas Eve,” said Doyle. “We’ve logged over 300 missions, about 1,500 miles ... and we’ve been able to accomplish bringing visitors to the consulate general safe.” Teamwork between these two Soldiers has been essential in completing their local-national escort missions, Doyle explained, but the camaraderie came easily. “Tran and I are like brother and sister,” Doyle said. Although this team has been successful in their mission, Tran and Doyle said that their rank of corporal could have been an issue had it not been for their colonel. “Anything that anybody wants to say about us being lower ranked,” said Doyle, “he’ll back us up to the fullest, and the same with our chain of command.” With the responsibility these Soldiers have learned during their deployment, and only four years combined military experience between the two, both plan on deploying to Afghanistan in the near future.
T- PAT C H S t a ff
Public Affairs Officer Lt. Col. Eric N. Atkisson w Editors 1st Lt. Adam J. Musil , Sgt. 1st Class Merrion LaSonde w Command Information OIC Capt. Donald M. Larsen w Print NCOIC Staff Sgt. Deane Barnhardt w Layout & Design Sgt. David A. Bryant w Writers and Photographers Sgt. Jeremy Spires, Spc. Brittany Gardner, Spc. Anthony Zane, Pvt. Andrew Slovensky The T-PATCH is a weekly newsletter distributed in electronic and print formats. It is authorized for publication by the 36th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office. The contents of The T-PATCH are unofficial and are not to be considered official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, including the Department of Defense. The T-PATCH is a command information publication in accordance with Army Regulation 360-1. The Public Affairs Office address is: 36th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office, APO AE 09374. Contact Sgt. 1st Class Merrion LaSonde via e-mail at merrion.lasonde@iraq.centcom.mil.
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Military Intelligence goes into action Story by Capt. Derek Kamachi 3rd AAB, 1st Cav. Div.
NASARIYAH, Iraq – “Mission” can mean many different things for Soldiers deployed to Iraq. For many their mission involves combined patrols with Iraqi Counterparts, for others it means conducting resupply operations or providing food services to hungry Soldiers. For the Human Intelligence Collection Team (HCT) members of Alpha Company, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division the mission can vary from day to day. The HCTs and the Operational Management Team (OMT) that provides them collection guidance know that each day will present new challenges that require skills unique to HUMINT collectors. “We complete a variety of training prior to arriving at our first duty station that provides us the skills necessary to successfully operate in the most challenging environments.” stated an HCT member conducting military source
A Human Intelligence Collection Team member with Alpha Company, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division prepares for a mission at Contingency Operating Base Adder, Iraq. Photo by 1st Lt. Ryan VanZandt
operations at Contingency Operating Base Adder. The very best HUMINT collectors possess a detailed knowledge of the environment in which they operate, are experts on subtleties of interpersonal communication, and have an ability to quickly adapt to any situation. They must also be as tactically savvy and comfortable conducting missions outside the wire as they are sitting behind a computer polishing intelligence reporting. Gathering intelligence is simply half the job, reporting it is the other. Today’s HUMINT operations are broader than those of the past, due in part to the non-linear battlefield in which collectors operate. HUMINT collectors liaise with host nation officials and intelligence counterparts in order to bolster collection capabilities. They debrief allied forces and civilian personnel to include refugees, displaced persons, thirdcountry nationals, and local inhabitants; and interrogate enemy prisoners of war and other detainees as well as exploiting documents, media and materials. HUMINT Collection Technician Chief Warrant Officer DeVaughn Rice said that his troop are doing incredible work and that each and every Soldier in his platoon deployed ready and able to accomplish their mission. “We have a lot of junior Soldiers in their early 20’s displaying maturity that’s well beyond their years and rank and that’s one of the main reasons that they’re successful. It speaks highly to the quality of the NCO’s in this platoon and the training we underwent at home station.” said Rice. This training is put to the test as HCT members integrate with 3AAB’s land owning battalions in order to provide critical intelligence support to force protection and targeting efforts. Before HCT members can meet with any source, detailed planning and coordination must take place. Each team works diligently to prepare key points of discussion for every meeting. This preparation ensures meetings remain focused on relevant intelligence requirements, avoiding the potential pitfall of wandering conversations. They then coordinate acceptable times and locations for meetings, a process that can 3
require considerable effort in order to ensure source comfort and safety. Meeting durations vary from a few minutes to several hours depending on the nature of the meeting and the sources’ availability. Once the meeting concludes, HCT members return and immediately begin processing the information into draft intelligence information reports (DIIR). Clarity is paramount when writing intelligence reports and each DIIR undergoes scrutiny from multiple echelons prior to release. For time sensitive information that requires immediate dissemination, HCT members publish concise narrative reports with essential information called SPOT reports. These reports carry critical importance. “These are reports that can ultimately save Soldiers lives and allow commanders to make decisions that alter enemy attack cycles,” said a Soldier from Co. A. HCT’s also stand ready to assist with independent or joint interrogations in order to garner additional intelligence from detainees. At a moment’s notice they can prepare specific approaches and deploy to outlying detainment facilities to conduct interrogations. Information collected during interrogations is processed by HCT members and published following review from higher echelons. Depending on the detainees level of cooperation and availability HCT members can conduct several hundred interrogations of a single detainee. While interrogations may be few and far between in today’s fight, HCT members routinely conduct missions with the various battalions in order to keep intelligence flowing. They embed with patrols and travel to objectives where they provide the expertise and capabilities beyond standard tactical questioning. People are any organizations greatest asset. Exploiting the knowledge they possess provides the commander with critical intelligence that drives decisions. HCT members provide the unique skills and qualifications necessary to mine all avenues of Human Intelligence. Professional, adaptable and always ready, the HCT members of Co. A, continue to embrace the daily challenges of military source operations. With plenty of time remaining in 3AAB’s deployment, HCT members will be able to do just that.
Spc. Lawrence Green, 1st Cavalry Division, 215th Brigade Support Battalion mechanic, demonstrates how to perform preventive maintenance checks and services to Iraqi Army mechanics on Contingency Operating Base Basra, July 19.
Soldiers teach 14th IA mechanics proper PMCS Story and photo by Pvt. Andrew C. Slovensky 362nd MPAD, USD-S Public Affairs
vehicle. He covered the fuel system, how the motor works, and the truck’s turbo system, ensuring the Iraqi trainees get a good understanding of the engine. The students followed the instructors as they covered the vehicle, from climbing onto the engine to crawling underneath the truck and checking for leaks or damage. “It’s better familiarization,” said Hesselbacher. “It starts with preventive maintenance.” The instructors put emphasis on changing out small, inexpensive parts to prevent replacing large, costly ones. “We teach them the small stuff so they don’t have to deal with the big stuff,” said Hesselbacher. “A little five-dollar filter is better than a motor down the road.” The class was conducted entirely through a translator, who repeated everything said by the instructors into Arabic, and any question asked by the students into English. An IA mechanic said that getting the instruction from the U.S. helped him to do better at his job, and to serve his country in a better way. The more he learned about the vehicles, the more motivated he was to learn as much as he could, he said. With the eventual departure of U.S. troops, Hesselbacher said that the mechanics might not have the opportunity to get this training in detail later on. “Our time here is kind of precious,” he said. “We’d like to make sure they get the best out of it.”
BASRAH, Iraq — U.S. Division-South Soldiers taught a preventive maintenance checks and services course to mechanics with the 14th Iraqi Army Div. at Contingency Operating Base Basra, July 18. The instruction is a 10-day course taught by Sgt. Shane Hesselbacher and Spc. Lawrence Green, mechanics with the 1st Cavalry Division, 215th Brigade Support Battalion. The focus of the class is to train Iraqi mechanics preventive maintenance checks and services on their vehicles— Ford F-350 trucks modified with a turret, extra seating, and armor siding. Fourteen Iraqi mechanics attended the class, all from different units within the 14th IA Div. Capt. Jose Juliaortiz, 1st Cav. Div., 215th BSB, said that the mission of the training was to prepare the mechanics to be proficient at and understand the importance of doing PMCS on their vehicles. “We’re preparing the Iraqis for whatever shortcomings they may have with their equipment,” said Juliaortiz. “We’re honing in on maintenance since it is one of their biggest issues.” The training that the 215th has done in the past for the IA has included medical, supply, and logistics, and the 14th IA Div. specifically requested more maintenance training from the U.S., said Juliaortiz The instructors began training by popping open the hood and going over everything in the engine compartment of the 4
“We are the Soldiers of the 36th...” CPT Erik Sateren
Environmental Compliance Name: Sateren, Erik ntry Primary Military Specialty: Infa None ty: cial Spe tary Mili ary ond Sec Grade: O-3 Hometown: Fargo, ND to follow rse instructor when he decided Sateren was an officer basic cou of Army rs yea 20 his of d the latter half some friends to Texas and spen on New rati Ope . ents loym dep for ring National Guard service voluntee same the to none of the five have been Dawn is his fifth deployment; location around the world.
ing my t memorable moment was gett “I would have to say my mos only “We . said ren when I was 33,” Sate (expert infantryman’s badge) lved invo sm rati favo no was e o - ther had about a ten percent pass rati at all!”
SFC JOSE ARGO
HSC Operations NCO Name: Argo, Jose Primary Military Specialty: Senior Maintenance NCO Secondary Military Specialty: Intelligence Analyst Hometown: St. Louis, MO
Grade: E-7
Argo’s commander says he really runs COB Basra. The 24-year vetaran of the Army National Guard is currently on his sixth deployment and loves fishing and playing sports with his kids. “I had a great opportunity to deploy to Bosnia in 2000 with the 49th Armored Division,” Argo said. “I was able to help set up an actual reunion between some family members who had been separated during the (Bosnian civil) war.”
SPC CARLOS GONZALEZ
BDOC Team Leader
Name: Gonzalez, Carlos r Primary Military Specialty: Truck Drive None : ialty Secondary Military Spec Hometown: Port Isabel, TX
Grade: E-4
everything but his MOS Gonzalez is a “go-to” guy for HSC who’s done y National Guard. The sixduring his first deployment with the Arm e-duty Army before joining year veteran served four years in the activ t who enjoys camping usias enth game the Guard and is an avid video he visits them in Florida. and canoeing with his two children when s that I guess just having the “I’ve been through so many things thing me,” Gonzalez said. “I really for out s stand privilege to serve overseas getting to work with the local enjoyed working security at the gate and culture.” nationals and learning more about their
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CHOW Midnight Breakfast Lunch Dinner
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Chaplain Programs and Religious Services
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We may need YOU to save your battle buddy’s life.
COB Basra Troop Medical Clinic Lab Department. Call Monday to Saturday for a screening appointment from 0830-1130 or 1300-1600. Walk-ins welcome!
Holy Joe’s Coffee (Coffee Bar and Fellowship) Monday - Saturday 0600 - 2200 william.culver@iraq.centcom.mil Rosary Prayer Tuesday at 2000 COB Basra Chapel arturo.rodriguez.jr@iraq.centcom.mil
NIPR: 858-4832 SIPR: 241-2426
“Give blood, and give the gift of life.”
Mid-Week Prayer with Chaplain Mays Wednesday at 1200 COB Basra Chapel wayne.mays@iraq.centcom.mil Basra Chapel Bible Studies Thursday 1900 - New Believers Bible Study 2000 - Bible Study Classes
36th Infantry Division Equal Opportunity Advisors Cell “Contact us if you are the victim of an Equal Opportunity or Sexual Harassment Complaint.”
Capt. Lisa Ann Lerma
COB Basra Resiliency Campus 858-4672
Protestant Services Sunday COB Basra Chapel 0930 - Traditional Service 1100 - Contemporary Service 1400 - Gospel Service 1700 - Liturgical Protestant The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) Sunday Old PX Building 0900 - Sacrament Service Roman Catholic Saturday COB Basra Chapel 2000 - Rosary/Vigil Service Sunday COB Basra Chapel 0800 - Catholic Service
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Time has RUN OUT!! The Mail Room officially closed on 31 July 2011. All remaining mail may still be picked up, but there will be no new incoming mail. Contact DSTB Administration for any questions or concerns. Doors close 31 August 2011. 6
Sudoku
Across
Down
1. Fresh from the oven 4. Work by Chagall 9. French clerics 14. “Inventive” monogram 15. Bit of marine life 16. Medea, to Circe 17. Noted 1928 musical work, with “The” 20. What gentle strokes may produce 21. Hope chest material 22. Egyptologist’s study 23. Regarding 26. Prickly heat 28. Excoriate 31. All tied up 34. Fort ___, Calif. 35. Lingo 38. Author Turgenev 39. Marches may be written in it 43. Bill of Rights advocacy grp. 44. “I’m game!” 45. Earth Day mo. 46. Prescribed time 49. Frenzied woman 51. P.M. after Eshkol 52. Contests ending in draws? 54. Chapel vow 56. Vexes 58. Dreamcast company 62. Some fancy vocabulary 66. More aloof 67. Shrovetide treats 68. Gender ___ 69. Like Tom Thumb 70. Wrap around a sandwich 71. Cries of dismay
1. Start of a Web address 2. Home of the bygone Aloha Bowl 3. Hawaii, before 1959: Abbr. 4. Daisy ___ 5. Worker often seen crouching 6. Volleyball ace Gabrielle 7. “Li’l ___” 8. Touch down 9. Cold weather attire 10. Marcel Marceau character 11. In style of the “Moonlight Sonata” 12. Linen shade 13. Stock exchange purchase 18. Part of Q.E.D. 19. Ball in a basket, maybe 24. Cager O’Neal, to fans 25. Ind. city named for foreign country 27. Agitation 28. Davenports 29. “I Got a Name” singer, 1973 30. “Devil in Miss Jones,” for one 31. ___-bitty 32. The Bucs stop here 33. Dummy Mortimer 36. Admission receipts 37. Legendary Bruin 40. Lacking in tact 41. One-named supermodel 42. Bona fide 47. Put on the clothesline 48. Many a jazz combo 50. Sinclair rival, once 52. Street seen on “Perry Mason” 53. Carrier once with U.S. flag logo 54. “___ looks like a duck …” 55. Casino needs 57. Foreign attys.’ degrees 59. As a result … 60. Hello from Canberra 61. Dangerous biters 63. Twilight, to Tennyson 64. Cellular stuff 65. Take the gold 7
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P h o t o o f t h e We e k
Photo by Pvt. Andrew Slovenskyt
Maj. Gen. Eddy M. Spurgin, 36th Infantry Division commander, tries a fresh date from Sayed Abdul Ali Al-Musawy’s orchard in Basrah July 21. Musawy is a prominent political and economic figure in Basrah who invited Spurgin to tour his orchard and fruit-packing facility.
Answers to last week’s Puzzles
Jumbles! Skunk Fewer Muffin Turtle *Knew his “Stuff”
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