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 Nahrwa,n Oct. 12.
Through an interpreter,1st Lt. James Self, from Mobile, Ala., the platoon leader of 1st platoon, Troop B, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, talks with workers at the Al-Ma’amil Brick Factory east of Nahrwan, Oct. 12.
Sgt. Charlie Jones, from Wilmington, N.C., a scout in 1st platoon, Troop B, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, pulls security while his platoon searches a building in the Al-Ma’amil Brick Factory east of Nahrwan, Oct. 12.

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.