Night Raid Leads to Capture of High-value Target

First Lt. James Self, from Mobile, Ala., a platoon leader in Troop B, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, and 1st Sgt. Miguel Rivera, the first sergeant of Troop B, discuss operations during a night raid in Narhwan, Iraq, March 16. During the raid, Troop B cleared three houses and detained four individuals.

Capt. Jared Albright, from Lancaster, Pa., the commander of Troop B, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, searches a home during a night raid in Narhwan, Iraq, March 16. During the raid, Troop B cleared three houses and detained four individuals.

A scout from Troop B, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, provides security during a night raid in Narhwan, Iraq, March 16. During the raid, Troop B cleared three houses and detained four individuals. Photo by Spc. Ben Hutto, 3rd HBCT, 3rd Inf. Div. PAO.

By Spc. Ben Hutto
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs Office

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – A high-value target was captured during a night raid in Narhwan by Soldiers of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team March 16.

Scouts from Troop B, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, currently attached to 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery, cleared three houses during the mission and detained three men for questioning, in addition to the target.

The HVT was wanted by Iraqi security forces and coalition forces for his role in several improvised explosive device attacks. He was suspected of smuggling weapons and explosives to several criminal groups throughout Iraq.

Soldiers uncovered a small cache in the HVT’s home containing an AK-47 assault rifle, two shotguns, a bayonet and a small quantity of small arms ammunition.

“Everything went perfectly,” said Capt. Jared Albright, from Lancaster, Pa., commander of Troop B. “Our guys did everything according to plan and it went exactly as we rehearsed it.”

First Lt. James Self, from Mobile, Ala., platoon leader in Troop B, said the capture of the target was important.

“The target was a really bad guy,” he said. “It’s a very good thing that he is off the streets. His capture not only makes Narhwan a safer place, it makes Iraq, as a whole, safer.”

The earlier this month, Troop B detained another HVT in a raid outside of Narhwan.

“This isn’t the first time we’ve done this,” said Staff Sgt. Denis Pettitt, from DeRidder, La., the troop’s operations non-commissioned officer. “On average, we’ve been capturing about one high-value target a month, so our guys know what do.”

Troop B is mainly comprised of scouts serving their first deployment, but the troop’s performance hasn’t suffered due to lack of experience.

“Our new guys have performed well,” Pettitt said. “Part of that has to do with our NCOs. They keep our guys calm and have done a good job getting them ready for those situations. They stay calm and haven’t gotten a big head about our successes.”

The 3-1st Cav. Regt. and 1-10th FA are assigned to the 3rd BCT, 3rd Infantry Division, from Fort Benning, Ga., and have been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since March 2007.