Monday, October 15, 2007

PAX terminal opens at FOB HAMMER

Lt. Col. Kelly Lawler from Monticello, N.Y., the commander of the 203rd Brigade Support Battalion, and Maj. Clyde Fleming from Hinesville, Ga., the 3rd HBCT, 3rd Inf. Div.’s aviation officer, cut the ribbon at the grand opening of the Forward Operating Base Hammer Passenger Terminal Oct. 11.

Spc. Ben Hutto, 3rd HBCT, 3rd Inf. Div.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – The FOB Hammer Helicopter Passenger Terminal opened officially with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 11.

Lt. Col. Kelly Lawler from Monticello, N.Y., commander of the 203rd Brigade Support Battalion, and Maj. Clyde Fleming from Hinesville, Ga., the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division’s aviation officer, cut the ribbon to the facility.

“The purpose of this facility is to keep Soldiers out of the weather and to help take the stress out of waiting for an aircraft,” said Fleming. “We were doing fine with the system we had, but this facility will definitely cut down on some of the confusion we sometimes experienced. The main goal is to eventually make this pax terminal like the ones you see on other enduring FOBs.”

The 3rd Brigade Aviation Element worked with the 557th Expeditionary Red Horse Squadron, civilian contractors and the FOB Hammer Mayor Cell to get the facility up and running.

“They were all very cooperative and went above and beyond the call of duty to make everything happen,” Fleming said.

Soldiers waiting for flights will now get to relax in an air-conditioned facility with a refrigerator, large screen high-definition television and DVD player.

“The non-commissioned officers of the aviation cell will run the facility,” Fleming said. “They will do an outstanding job.”

Fleming singled out Sgt. Ryan Woodcraft from Clare, Mich., an NCO in the 3rd BAE, as the Soldier most responsible for successfully opening the station.

“Sergeant Woodcraft was given this mission and he ran with it,” Fleming said. “I helped him with some of the major roadblocks, but he was responsible for all of the legwork and coordinating everything. He did an outstanding job.”

The 3rd HBCT, 3rd Inf. Div., is from Fort Benning, Ga., and has been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since March.

Joint mission introduces unit to new area of operation

Staff Sgt. Isaac McEwen, from Medway, Maine, an artilleryman with 1st platoon, Battery A, 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery Regiment, searches for weapon caches at the Al-Ma’amil Brick Factory east of Nahrwan Oct. 12.

HQ, MND-Center
Baghdad, Iraq
APO AE 09342
VOIP: 822-7482

Story and photos Spc. Ben Hutto, 3rd HBCT Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – Soldiers from Troop B, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment and Battery A, 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery Regiment conducted a joint operation at the Al-Ma’amil Brick Factory, east of Nahrwan, Oct. 12.

Troop B, assisted by Battery A, cleared 23 buildings during the operation, but found no weapons caches or insurgents.

Battery A recently moved to FOB Hammer from the Camp Bucca Detention Facility and will soon assume a portion of the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division’s battle space.

“I thought it went really well today,“ Capt. Jared Albright, from Lancaster, Pa., the commander of Troop B, said. “We were able to confirm locations where insurgents are meeting and storing weapons. Unfortunately, none of them were there today.”

Albright said the mission was conducted to introduce the 1-10 FA Regt. to their new area of operation and to gather information about the factory. The 1-10 FA Regt. takes over parts of the 3-1 Cav. Regiment’s area of operations on Oct. 15.

“Today was very successful,” said Command Sgt. Maj. James Benedict, from Chesterton, Ind., the command sergeant major of 1-10 FA Regt. “We will be transitioning into this area. All of our Soldiers handled themselves very professionally and were very friendly.”

Benedict felt this mission was very important for his battalion.

“This mission was definitely a confidence builder,” Benedict said. “You go out with an attitude of ‘What’s next?’ Everyone I saw was vigilant and communicating with one another. We really look forward to going into Nahrwan, Sabah Nissan and places like that, to help build communities and be a part of the team-building process.”

As excited as Benedict is about helping these areas, he is still mindful of the danger his troops face whenever they leave the FOB.

Pilots showcase Apaches at FOB Hammer

Chief Warrant Officer Scott Durrer, from Tucson, Ariz., a pilot with the 1st Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, explains the weapons system of his AH-64 Apache attack helicopter to artillerymen from the 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery Regiment, during a class at the landing zone on FOB Hammer Oct. 13.

Story and photos Spc. Ben Hutto, 3rd HBCT Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery Regiment received a class from AH-64 Apache attack helicopter pilots at the landing zone on FOB Hammer Oct. 13.

The 1-10 FA Regt. recently moved to FOB Hammer from the Camp Bucca Detention Facility and will soon assume a portion of the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team’s battle space Oct. 15.

“The purpose of the class was to integrate 1-10 FA Regt. into their battle space,” said Maj. Clyde Fleming, from Hinesville, Ga., the 3rd HBCT’s aviation officer. “We wanted them to see the Apache’s air capabilities and the pilots’ tactics, techniques and procedures.”

Soldiers listened to the pilots from the 1st Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Inf. Div., explain their capabilities and how they could help the Soldiers on their missions.

“If we can talk Soldiers through situations now, it makes it much easier when we actually have to go through them when it’s for real,” said Chief Warrant Officer Scott Durrer, from Tucson, Ariz., a pilot with 1-3 Avn. Regt.

The Soldiers got to examine the helicopters and see the weapon systems up close. Many soldiers asked questions about combat and tactical situations.

“One of the biggest things this aircraft does is let people see a show of force,” said Chief Warrant Officer Josh Kinney, from Seattle, Wash., a pilot with 1-3 Avn. Regt. “We can drop down and deter bad guys in a heart beat. We also recon routes and positions on a regular basis. Anything the units need from us, we have no problem doing.”

That information was good news for the 1-10 FA Regt. Soldiers as they prepare to assume their battle space.

“I thought the class was great,” said Staff Sgt. Derick Threatt, from Pell City, Ala., an artilleryman with Battery A, 1-10 FA Regt. “They gave us a lot of usable information. It made me feel safe as far as them providing security for us.”

Soldiers provide medical care to Nahrwan residents

An Iraqi man receives medicine and directions from an Iraqi doctor and Pfc. Erik Vidal, from Hialeah, Fla., a medic with Troop B, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, during a visit to a medical clinic in Narhwan, Iraq, Oct. 8.

HVI capture leads to new arrests

By Staff Sgt. Sean Riley, 3rd HBCT, 3rd Inf. Div.
Multi-National Division – Center PAO

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – Three suspected insurgents, linked to a high-value individual (HVI) captured the day prior, were detained near the area known as the Brick Factory east of Nahrwan Oct. 11.

Soldiers from Troop B, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, detained the men after they were identified as belonging to a cell connected to a HVl captured Oct. 10.

The HVI, No. 4 on the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team’s most-wanted insurgent list, was captured during a night raid in Baghdad conducted by the 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, part of Multi-National Division-Baghdad, from Fort Bragg, N.C.

“The capture of these three insurgents continues to disrupt the operations of the cell operating out of Narhwan,” said Maj. David Fivecoat from Delaware, Ohio, the operations officer for the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division. “Their incarceration will help increase the safety and security of the area.”

The 3-1 Cav. Regt., is assigned to the 3rd HBCT, 3rd Infantry Division from Fort Benning, Ga., and has been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since March.