IED Battle Drill

Well, I just finished another covoy security mission. This particular mission was different for me, because I went with a team from one of our line companies. Usually when I go on missions, I go with the Task Force Commander's Personal Security Detatchment, or PSD. This time; however, I went with a team from 2 Platoon Alpha Company. This was a good thing, because I once was the Executive Officer (XO) for Alpha Company. It was good to go on a mission with them again. After it was all over, I learned a lot from a combat experienced team and what the battlefield is like on a particular route.

BOOM!
One word describes what it is like when an IED strikes your convoy. I was lucky in this instance, because I was at the front of the convoy. The IED struck the middle, but caused little damage. Small Arms Fire (SAF) followed after the IED detonated. Immediately, the middle gun truck returned fire to suppress the enemy as the convoy increased speed to get out of the kill zone. It has become a battle drill for our convoys. Little has to be said over the radio other than checking to see if everyone is alright. The convoy security team I was with are experienced veterans , in sync, needing very little instruction for what to do in this situation. As soon as I told my driver, SPC Williams, that the middle gun truck was hit by an IED, he immediately pressed down on the accelerator to guide the convoy out of the kill zone. SSG Bullwinkle, the convoy commander, was in the trail. His main concern was the soldiers in the middle gun truck. He shouted over the radio, "Oh my God, White One, are you OK?" Once "White One", SSG Vareen, said all was OK with no apparent damage to the truck, the convoy continued. A few kilometers down the road, one of the empty fuel tankers slowed down due to three flat tires. SSG Bullwinkle did not hesitate. He ordered the driver and assistant driver to load onto another truck and leave the damaged fuel truck on the side of the road to be recovered later. SSG Bullwinkle knew there was no time to fix the truck, because the convoy was engaged by enemy small arms fire. He wanted to get the convoy out of the danger area as fast as possible and leaving the damaged fuel truck was the best way to get everyone out safely. Keep in mind, all of this occured in less than five minutes. It all ocured like clockwork. Experience was driving force that lead the convoy to safety. Again, everyone executed like a well syncronized clock.

COMBAT HUMOR
NCOs have some "sick" sense of humor. After the convoy got hit by the IED and all went back to normal on the MSR, the convoy halted at a small base in southern Iraq. The purpose of the halt was to refuel the gun trucks. SSG Vareen immediately took the opportunity to say, "SSG Bullwinkle does not want to admit it, but he was crying on the radio when he thought I was hit." SSG Bullwinle immediately responded in defense, "I cried for joy because I thought you were gone and I would not have to put up with your sh#!t anymore."

There is a lot of love on the battlefield!