"Overall what we're doing is trying to accomplish a mission and return home safe."
(Albu Siker, IRAQ) - My first day on patrol in Iraq. These soldiers from the Army's 101st Airborne are from the 2nd Batallion, 320th Artillery. Their group is known as the Balls of the Eagle. It sounds boastful, but after a few hours in the countryside of Iraq, the name made sense.
The soldiers form a cohesive group that takes their role in this war very seriously. Today's mission was to leave the confines of the air base at Balad, and move into an area known as Albu Siker. Sgt Major Robert Levis is a career soldier who directs the operations here.
"You know these young Americans that sign up for the military today, they already know they're going to war, they know they are going to be separated from their family, it just amazes me. Not only do they do one tour; they re-enlist and come back. They keep doing it, there are soldiers who have been deployed over 40 months already."
Along with the extended tours some of these soldiers have taken, is an improved degree of technology with a newer military combat transport vehicle called the MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected).
Jose Mayorgaruana is a soldier with the 101st, "HUMVEE's sit a little lower, but you actually feel better in this environment, knowing that it's a little bit bigger, and how it's shaped. You know what I mean, when an IED or an explosive actually goes off, how it deflects it. It was made in a specific way."
Especially when moving across a combat zone, Bryan White of Long Island, New York says the MRAP proves size really does count, "Well personally I think it is a good tool to have; it is bigger, I think it is more protective than a regular HUMVEE. You know it is bigger, so you can actually take three of these and carry more than taking three or four HUMVEE's."
These troops say the improved technology increases their chances of returning home to their families in one piece.
Mayorgaruana adds that the new vehicles really raise the safety level, "From what I can see, coming from an enlisted soldier's perspective, soldiers, overall what we're doing, it is in the big scale of what we are doing, trying to accomplish a mission and return home safe.'
Along with vehicle technology and safety, is the importance of each soldier's personal security when they venture outside of their vehicle. As a 101st sergeant, Moses Garcia has a higher level of responsibility to ensure the safety of the younger soldiers.
"We have 360 security, so I'll cover this sector right here. My other soldiers will cover the sector behind me, and so forth and so forth, so we all cover each other's back, make sure there is no threat coming towards us, and escalate force accordingly."
One of the high tech tools helping my coverage of the war in Iraq is the VIO-POV helmet camera. It is the Cadillac of helmet cams and manufactured with what seem to be, military precision. The unit is simple to operate, and another example of emerging technology that is in large part, evolving from the war theaters. An impressive number of these cameras have already been purchased by the US military.
The MRAP transport vehicle is just one of the tools now in the hands of our servicemembers engaged in the fighting overseas. The view from the 50 caliber machine gun turret gives you an idea of what these soldiers see in Iraq on a daily basis.
Anything that leads to more lives being saved could only be considered a positive advancement.
WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW:
Produced by Tim King
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Tim King is a former U.S. Marine with twenty years of experience on the west coast as a television news producer, photojournalist, reporter and assignment editor. In addition to his role as a war correspondent, this Los Angeles native serves as Salem-News.com's Executive News Editor. Tim spent the winter of 2006/07 covering the war in Afghanistan, and he was in Iraq over the summer of 2008, reporting from the war while embedded with both the U.S. Army and the Marines.
Tim holds awards for reporting, photography, writing and editing, including the Silver Spoke Award by the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (2011), Excellence in Journalism Award by the Oregon Confederation of Motorcycle Clubs (2010), Oregon AP Award for Spot News Photographer of the Year (2004), First-place Electronic Media Award in Spot News, Las Vegas, (1998), Oregon AP Cooperation Award (1991); and several others including the 2005 Red Cross Good Neighborhood Award for reporting. Tim has several years of experience in network affiliate news TV stations, having worked as a reporter and photographer at NBC, ABC and FOX stations in Arizona, Nevada and Oregon. Tim was a member of the National Press Photographer's Association for several years and is a current member of the Orange County Press Club.
Serving the community in very real terms, Salem-News.com is the nation's only truly independent high traffic news Website. As News Editor, Tim among other things, is responsible for publishing the original content of 82 Salem-News.com writers. He reminds viewers that emails are easily missed and urges those trying to reach him, to please send a second email if the first goes unanswered. You can write to Tim at this address: newsroom@salem-news.com
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