Shaffer
05-29-07, 08:53 AM
The sun slowly glides down the desert horizon. Darkness has set. Time for some much needed rest after a day filled with patrols of this isolated last stop before the Iraqi and Syrian border.
This much anticipated sleep is interrupted by the burning sensation you feel in your nose from the familiar breaths of the red desert sand. The make shift “Hilton” is rocked by a tremendous explosion. Marines scurry outside with weapons in hand to investigate, only to hear the fading roar of thunder. Quickly engulfed by the downpour, reality sets in. No mortar attack tonight, no explosives going off, just a storm.
As the sun retakes its place in the desert sky, a Marine walks in the now dismantled living quarters and announces, “Storms over, mount up.”
Though the storm disfigured many of the buildings at Command Outpost Norseman, according to Lt. Col. Andrew H. Smith, Commander of Task Force Tarawa, today is a good day.
Today, the commander will patrol the city with his Mobile Assault Platoon, or MAP. The MAP is a detachment of specially trained Marines who provide security for the Task Force Commander when he is traveling.
“They are a patrol,” Smith says. “They just tend to be dedicated to me.”
Another Smith of no relation to the commander, Cpl. Brent M. Smith, a vehicle commander with MAP, explained his job as escorting Lt. Col. Smith around his battlespace as safely as possible.
By far, no easy task when traveling the roads in a combat zone plagued with improvised explosive devices and where the enemy blends in with the local populace.
“We went through an intense training package prior to coming out here,” said Staff Sgt. Ocie L. Lowery, platoon sergeant and convoy commander for the MAP.
The Marines’ three-month training package was put together by a private security company.
“We started from the basics,” said Cpl. Steve Batista, assistant patrol leader, vehicle commander and navigator with MAP. “Basically, we learned how to move a principle from one place to another while maintaining security and staying in control.”
“We used Crown Vics, Suburbans and Hummers when we did our training,” said Cpl. Scott J. Wormuth, a vehicle commander and machine gunner with the MAP. “We learned how to drive faster and harder while keeping control and protecting our principle vehicle.”
The driving portion of their training was of the utmost importance, but the ability to drive like the ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ alone doesn’t guarantee safety.
“Some days we would shoot over 9,000 rounds apiece,” said Cpl. Smith, a Hughesville, Pa., native. “We would shoot until our hands cramped up, and then we would shoot some more.”
“Every ones accuracy and alertness improved tremendously by the end of the training,” said Batista, a Lyndhurst, N. J., native.
Having gone through rigorous training in order to keep military commanders safe in Iraq, the time had come to put the training to use.
“When we first got here, we were attached to Regimental Combat Team 2 at Al Asad and had Col. Clardy as a principle,” said Lowery, a South River, N. J. native. “When Task Force Tarawa was established, we moved to Rutbah and the principle became Lt. Col. Smith.”
As with any two people, none think alike. Col H. Stacy Clardy is the RCT-2 Commander.
“We had to adapt to Lt. Col. Smith’s strategy,” said Batista.
“He is very meticulous, but fair,” added Wormuth. “He is also very professional.”
Being a reflection of the Task Force Commander, the MAP maintains a high level of professionalism at all times.
“We know other units are watching us,” said Cpl. Smith. “If we look bad, we make the lieutenant colonel look bad, and that’s not part of our job.”
“Once we hit the gate, we are all business,” added Wormuth.
Lt. Col. Smith reciprocates the views of the MAP Marines.
“They are a very professional bunch,” Lt. Col. Smith exclaimed. “They take their job seriously and have a good attention to detail. I feel comfortable when I’m out with them.”
Due to the regularity of traveling with the MAP, Lt. Col. Smith is not considered a passenger being chauffeured around the desert; he is part of the team.
“He is not someone to just sit in an office,” expressed Wormuth, a Pleasanton, Calif., native. “He believes in his mission, and he gets out there with us.”
“That’s the only way I’ll do it,” said Lt. Col. Smith. “It’s a team effort, and I’m part of that team. They are one of the very rewarding aspects of being out here; I get to run around with these guys.”
With the training behind them and into the sixth month of their deployment, the MAP Marines are continuing to put the vital training they received to use every day as they take to the streets of Rutbah with their team member and Task Force Commander.
“Our mission is to make Lt. Col. Smith a hard target,” said Lowery emphatically. “This is our final exam, and failing is not an option.”
Task Force Tarawa is part of Regimental Combat Team 2, a Marine Corps command responsible for more than 30,000 square miles and 5,500 Marines, sailors and soldiers in Iraq’s Al Anbar Province.
This much anticipated sleep is interrupted by the burning sensation you feel in your nose from the familiar breaths of the red desert sand. The make shift “Hilton” is rocked by a tremendous explosion. Marines scurry outside with weapons in hand to investigate, only to hear the fading roar of thunder. Quickly engulfed by the downpour, reality sets in. No mortar attack tonight, no explosives going off, just a storm.
As the sun retakes its place in the desert sky, a Marine walks in the now dismantled living quarters and announces, “Storms over, mount up.”
Though the storm disfigured many of the buildings at Command Outpost Norseman, according to Lt. Col. Andrew H. Smith, Commander of Task Force Tarawa, today is a good day.
Today, the commander will patrol the city with his Mobile Assault Platoon, or MAP. The MAP is a detachment of specially trained Marines who provide security for the Task Force Commander when he is traveling.
“They are a patrol,” Smith says. “They just tend to be dedicated to me.”
Another Smith of no relation to the commander, Cpl. Brent M. Smith, a vehicle commander with MAP, explained his job as escorting Lt. Col. Smith around his battlespace as safely as possible.
By far, no easy task when traveling the roads in a combat zone plagued with improvised explosive devices and where the enemy blends in with the local populace.
“We went through an intense training package prior to coming out here,” said Staff Sgt. Ocie L. Lowery, platoon sergeant and convoy commander for the MAP.
The Marines’ three-month training package was put together by a private security company.
“We started from the basics,” said Cpl. Steve Batista, assistant patrol leader, vehicle commander and navigator with MAP. “Basically, we learned how to move a principle from one place to another while maintaining security and staying in control.”
“We used Crown Vics, Suburbans and Hummers when we did our training,” said Cpl. Scott J. Wormuth, a vehicle commander and machine gunner with the MAP. “We learned how to drive faster and harder while keeping control and protecting our principle vehicle.”
The driving portion of their training was of the utmost importance, but the ability to drive like the ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ alone doesn’t guarantee safety.
“Some days we would shoot over 9,000 rounds apiece,” said Cpl. Smith, a Hughesville, Pa., native. “We would shoot until our hands cramped up, and then we would shoot some more.”
“Every ones accuracy and alertness improved tremendously by the end of the training,” said Batista, a Lyndhurst, N. J., native.
Having gone through rigorous training in order to keep military commanders safe in Iraq, the time had come to put the training to use.
“When we first got here, we were attached to Regimental Combat Team 2 at Al Asad and had Col. Clardy as a principle,” said Lowery, a South River, N. J. native. “When Task Force Tarawa was established, we moved to Rutbah and the principle became Lt. Col. Smith.”
As with any two people, none think alike. Col H. Stacy Clardy is the RCT-2 Commander.
“We had to adapt to Lt. Col. Smith’s strategy,” said Batista.
“He is very meticulous, but fair,” added Wormuth. “He is also very professional.”
Being a reflection of the Task Force Commander, the MAP maintains a high level of professionalism at all times.
“We know other units are watching us,” said Cpl. Smith. “If we look bad, we make the lieutenant colonel look bad, and that’s not part of our job.”
“Once we hit the gate, we are all business,” added Wormuth.
Lt. Col. Smith reciprocates the views of the MAP Marines.
“They are a very professional bunch,” Lt. Col. Smith exclaimed. “They take their job seriously and have a good attention to detail. I feel comfortable when I’m out with them.”
Due to the regularity of traveling with the MAP, Lt. Col. Smith is not considered a passenger being chauffeured around the desert; he is part of the team.
“He is not someone to just sit in an office,” expressed Wormuth, a Pleasanton, Calif., native. “He believes in his mission, and he gets out there with us.”
“That’s the only way I’ll do it,” said Lt. Col. Smith. “It’s a team effort, and I’m part of that team. They are one of the very rewarding aspects of being out here; I get to run around with these guys.”
With the training behind them and into the sixth month of their deployment, the MAP Marines are continuing to put the vital training they received to use every day as they take to the streets of Rutbah with their team member and Task Force Commander.
“Our mission is to make Lt. Col. Smith a hard target,” said Lowery emphatically. “This is our final exam, and failing is not an option.”
Task Force Tarawa is part of Regimental Combat Team 2, a Marine Corps command responsible for more than 30,000 square miles and 5,500 Marines, sailors and soldiers in Iraq’s Al Anbar Province.