Combat logistics patrol leader, 1st Lt. Angela Fowler, Spring Lake, N.C., the executive officer for Company C, 203rd Brigade Support Battalion, conducts an after action review with the troops in her convoy Oct. 16 at Forward Operating Base Hammer. Fowler’s CLP went to Victory Base Camp in Baghdad, to get supplies for FOB Hammer. (Photo by Spc. Ben Hutto)
Story and photos by Spc. Ben Hutto, 3rd HBCT Public Affairs
Logistics leaders are constantly facing the challenge of a combat logistics patrol by trying to figure out how to properly combine diverse units and get them to their destination safely and efficiently.
Since they’ve been on the ground in Iraq the leaders in the 203rd Brigade Support Battalion have planned over 400 successful CLPs based on the mission, destination and information about the area they will be traveling through.
Two hours before they are scheduled to travel to Victory Base Camp in Baghdad, Soldiers from the 203rd Brigade Support Battalion, the 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, the 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery Regiment and drivers for Kellog, Brown and Root listened as the CLP leader, 1st Lt. Angela Fowler, Spring Lake, N.C., the executive officer for Company C, 203rd BSB, went over the operations order for their upcoming mission.
Fowler explained the route, the time of departure, the estimated arrival time and what each group’s objective would be at VBC in a quick concise manner. Her questions to each platoon sergeant and driver were quickly answered with the correct answers.
Fowler seemed satisfied and turned the floor over to Staff Sgt. Arthur Goodman, Norfolk, Va., the squad leader for 2nd squad of the Movement Security Platoon, 203rd BSB.
Goodman went through roll-over drills, water egress procedures, how the convoy will react to improvised explosive devices, reactions on contact, and proper escalation of force procedures for the Soldiers. Each topic was discussed thoroughly and he frequently stopped to ask questions. Goodman makes sure that everyone is on the same page at every briefing.
“We go over these before every mission,” he said. “I like to reinforce things so it is fresh in the Soldier’s minds before every mission. I want these ideas to be second nature to them so when things happen they don’t have to stop and think about it. If you reinforce ideas over and over, it becomes second nature.”
Goodman is also cognizant of who is in each convoy.
“We have civilian contractors, heavy equipment operators and Soldiers driving very heavy vehicles on these CLPs,” Goodman said. “It is important to go over roll-over drills because of the nature of these vehicles. They need to know to tuck their chin, brace for impact, and brace themselves before releasing their seatbelts in the event of a roll-over. It doesn’t sound hard, but we had a roll-over incident about three months into our deployment. Luckily, he was fine and everything was okay. We got him out and recovered all of the sensitive items like we were supposed to. It went right by the book. I like to think it was because he listened to my brief shortly before that.”
Fowler stressed the importance of the escalation of force part of the brief.
“We make sure we brief before each mission, especially the escalation of force procedures,” Fowler said. “By briefing the proper escalation of force procedures before every mission, we have cut down on our incidents.”
After going over everything, Fowler reminded everyone to check their radios a final time and released them.
“We are taking a new route tonight,” she said. “We want to make sure everyone knows the route, not just the drivers.”
Maj. Howard Coe, Winston-Salem, N.C., the executive officer of 203rd BSB, explained that roll-over drills, water egress procedures, how the convoy will react to IEDs, reactions on contact, and proper escalation of force procedures are stressed to every 203rd BSB Soldier before they leave FOB Hammer.
“We try to standardize the pre-brief so that everything is always put out,” he said. “All of our CLP commanders understand the importance of our pre-briefs and letting their Soldiers know the route beforehand.”
Sgt. Gerald King, Thompson Falls, Mont., the tactical commander of one of the 203rd BSB’s movement security platoons, was preparing his Soldiers for this mission 24 hours before hand.
The movement security platoon is responsible for the CLP’s security. The vehicles that make up the platoon are mobile and able to quickly respond to any threat to the convoy.
“When we get a mission, we normally have 24 hours notice,” he said. “We will QA QC (quality control checks) all of our vehicles and our communications equipment. We then coordinate a time to go out to the range and test fire all our weapons systems to make sure they are working correctly. After that, we get our link up time and prepare to roll out.”
The platoon, which is made up of cooks, water purification specialists and mechanics, make sure every member understands the safety procedures covered in the pre-brief.
“We have outstanding Soldiers in this platoon,” King said. “They work hard. They train hard. Each and every one of them can give the convoy brief at any time.”
Coe pointed out that the Soldiers in the MSP have a much different mission than anyone else in the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team.
“They aren’t traditional combat arms guys, but they go outside the gate more than anyone on this FOB,” Coe said. “They have to be very fluid. They don’t have a set objective that they are responsible for every time they leave. It’s not like they need to capture this target or secure this objective. Their mission is driven by the needs of the brigade.”
Coe explained that Soldiers in MSP have become so comfortable with their role that they need very little supervision from the CLP leader. This, in turn, frees the CLP leaders up to concentrate on other aspects of the mission.
The convoy left FOB Hammer early in the morning and steadily made its way to Baghdad. Radio chatter was kept to a minimum as the lead vehicle scanned for IEDs.
“I make sure my guys stay observant in the vehicle,” said Cpl. Joe Esparza, Hacienda Heights, Calif., the lead vehicle commander of the movement security platoon.
After arriving safely at VBC, Fowler secured lodging for the convoy’s short stay there.
After a quick nap, each element of the convoy splits up and executes their part of the mission.
Fowler explained the convoy was responsible for getting upgrades installed on some vehicles, securing supplies and getting items to restock the Post Exchange at FOB Hammer.
The rest of the day was spent accomplishing their tasks and getting rest for the trip back to FOB Hammer.
“I let my guys rest and refocus so they will be alert on the trip back,” King said. “I want them to have their head in the game, so rest is important.”
Early the next morning, Fowler had everyone lined up and ready to return to FOB Hammer. Quickly and thoroughly, she and King went back over the safety brief before sending everyone back to their vehicles.
Following the mission, everyone in the convoy headed back to the briefing tent for an after action review. Fowler explained that AARs are an important part of the mission.
“We use them to see what we are doing right and what we need to improve upon,” she said. “We use the information to plan for the next CLP and make it better.”
Several suggestions were given to improve the next mission, but overall everyone was pleased with the mission.
“Everyone did what they were supposed to and everyone came back safe,” King said. “When that happens, I count that as a successful mission.”
Coe believes that the work that the CLP commanders put into their jobs makes missions like this one successful.
“We hold a CLP leaders meeting every week,” he said. “The commander and the S3 (Lt. Col. Kelly Lawler and Capt. Emanuel Velez) meet with all of them and get them focused on what they can improve on. They share their concerns and TTPs (tactics, techniques and procedures). The CLP commanders really take that information to heart and make sure they are implemented the coming week.”
The 203rd BSB, the 3rd BSTB and the1-10 FA Regt. are assigned to the 3rd HBCT, 3rd Infantry Division, from Fort Benning, Ga., and have been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since March.
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