thedrifter
02-19-09, 08:50 AM
Survival in the outskirts
Marines roughing it on patrol in Iraq, living in LAVs
By Ashley Rowland, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Thursday, February 19, 2009
AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq — The most important piece of equipment on Cpl. Asa Akins’ Light Armored Vehicle is something that might be stashed in your garage back home.
Small enough to fit in a hungry Marine’s hand, a Coleman stove was nearly all that stood between him and a three-month diet of Meals, Ready to Eat, he said. Same for the other 27 Marines of Company F, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, who recently returned from an 87-day patrol in Ninevah and Anbar provinces.
During the patrol, they lived and traveled in seven-man LAVs. Sometimes they bought food from local markets, but mostly they ate prepackaged food or cooked Ramen noodles and macaroni and cheese on their stoves. Sometimes they mixed in tuna, or heated water to make coffee.
"You get used to it if you’re out there for so long," said Sgt. Lonnie Richards.
During presence patrols meant to discourage insurgent activity and smuggling along the border, the Marines rode in four-vehicle platoons and took turns keeping watch inside the LAV and sleeping outside in two-man tents.
In some of the colder areas, "you were guaranteed to wake up with your sleeping bag lined with ice," Richards said.
They strapped their food and gear to the outside of their vehicles in makeshift wire containers, and met up with supply convoys every three to four days to refuel and get food.
"It’s a survival mentality out here," Akins said. "You’re basically living out of your pack. Everything you have with you is everything you need."
Except, perhaps, running water. At one point, they went 30 days without showers.
"You go through a lot of baby wipes, I can tell you that," Akins said.
They rode through the once-violent cities of Baghdadi and Hit, and hamlets of a dozen or so houses. They said they found no insurgents. Sometimes, the Iraqis would meet them on the outskirts of their village with tea.
Richards said the region has grown much calmer and the capabilities of the Iraqi forces have improved since he was stationed at Al Asad in 2004 and 2005.
"When I was here, sometimes it seemed as if we were doing most of their jobs. Now it’s as if the locals are carrying the torch and are more motivated," he said.
After spending a few days at Al Asad for rest and vehicle maintenance, they were to leave for another patrol. Lance Cpl. Daniel Sturge said he was glad to get back to the larger base, but wants to go back to his less-regimented life in the field.
"There’s about 10 times as much command and rules about dress and how I carry myself [at Al Asad]," he said.
Their biggest problem while on patrol was the Iraqi children, who swarmed around the LAVs for a closer look and constantly asked for pens and candy.
"Kids — they want to touch everything and grab stuff," Akins said.
To pass the time, the Marines tossed a football, played Frisbee, read, wrote letters home, played checkers, spades and Uno.
They also started to learn Arabic, since there was a shortage of interpreters and they were on their own.
The phrases they used most often were "Hello," and, for the kids, "Go away."
Ellie
Marines roughing it on patrol in Iraq, living in LAVs
By Ashley Rowland, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Thursday, February 19, 2009
AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq — The most important piece of equipment on Cpl. Asa Akins’ Light Armored Vehicle is something that might be stashed in your garage back home.
Small enough to fit in a hungry Marine’s hand, a Coleman stove was nearly all that stood between him and a three-month diet of Meals, Ready to Eat, he said. Same for the other 27 Marines of Company F, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, who recently returned from an 87-day patrol in Ninevah and Anbar provinces.
During the patrol, they lived and traveled in seven-man LAVs. Sometimes they bought food from local markets, but mostly they ate prepackaged food or cooked Ramen noodles and macaroni and cheese on their stoves. Sometimes they mixed in tuna, or heated water to make coffee.
"You get used to it if you’re out there for so long," said Sgt. Lonnie Richards.
During presence patrols meant to discourage insurgent activity and smuggling along the border, the Marines rode in four-vehicle platoons and took turns keeping watch inside the LAV and sleeping outside in two-man tents.
In some of the colder areas, "you were guaranteed to wake up with your sleeping bag lined with ice," Richards said.
They strapped their food and gear to the outside of their vehicles in makeshift wire containers, and met up with supply convoys every three to four days to refuel and get food.
"It’s a survival mentality out here," Akins said. "You’re basically living out of your pack. Everything you have with you is everything you need."
Except, perhaps, running water. At one point, they went 30 days without showers.
"You go through a lot of baby wipes, I can tell you that," Akins said.
They rode through the once-violent cities of Baghdadi and Hit, and hamlets of a dozen or so houses. They said they found no insurgents. Sometimes, the Iraqis would meet them on the outskirts of their village with tea.
Richards said the region has grown much calmer and the capabilities of the Iraqi forces have improved since he was stationed at Al Asad in 2004 and 2005.
"When I was here, sometimes it seemed as if we were doing most of their jobs. Now it’s as if the locals are carrying the torch and are more motivated," he said.
After spending a few days at Al Asad for rest and vehicle maintenance, they were to leave for another patrol. Lance Cpl. Daniel Sturge said he was glad to get back to the larger base, but wants to go back to his less-regimented life in the field.
"There’s about 10 times as much command and rules about dress and how I carry myself [at Al Asad]," he said.
Their biggest problem while on patrol was the Iraqi children, who swarmed around the LAVs for a closer look and constantly asked for pens and candy.
"Kids — they want to touch everything and grab stuff," Akins said.
To pass the time, the Marines tossed a football, played Frisbee, read, wrote letters home, played checkers, spades and Uno.
They also started to learn Arabic, since there was a shortage of interpreters and they were on their own.
The phrases they used most often were "Hello," and, for the kids, "Go away."
Ellie