Camp Victory Iraq
From January 2005 through January 2006, the 2nd Battalion 299 Infantry‘s primary mission was to conduct base defense operations of Camp Victory, Iraq. The mission required manning of 4 entry control points, 12 perimeter towers, and to manage entrance access and patrol the Al Faw Palace. The battalion was also assigned to conduct inner perimeter patrols to ensure the security of the MNC-I and MNF-I Headquarters located in the Al Faw Palace on Camp Victory. We also conducted combat patrols in three villages neighboring the camp in Baghdad and in our areas of operations. I will give significant discussion to the following tasks assigned to our battalion from our higher command, 18th Airborne Corps and 3rd Infantry Division.
There was no question if we were going to deploy. The question was when we were going to deploy. On 16 August 2004 we received our mobilization orders for OIF III. I was moved into the S3 shop as the new Operations Sergeant. The battalion was looking for an experience operations NCO and I was selected for the job. The first individual training site was at home in Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. Training right in your backyard isn`t too bad because your family can always visit. After 2 months, we got the word that the next destination for collective training was in an area right outside of Fort Bliss, Texas. This was quite challenging for most of us that actually never was on active duty for a length of time. Some Soldiers excelled and some did not. Our Soldiers were trained very well on the following task but no one knew how it would actually be conducting the same task in central Baghdad, Iraq.
Entrance Control Points
There were four entry control points given to our battalion: ECP 1, 2, 5, and 7. Our Soldiers were to provide around the clock security to these entry control points leading into Camp Victory. The gates to the ECP`s would open at 0600 hrs and a flood of civilians, flatbed trucks, busses, and cars headed toward the gates looking for access to Camp Victory. Some of those waiting for entry were Iraqi Army Soldiers and Iraqi Police; while others are civilian contractors looking for work. Everyone and anyone would still get thoroughly searched before entering the camp.
ECP 1 is the main entrance into Camp Victory coming off Route Irish. Route Irish is one of the main highways in Iraq. There are lanes provided for contractors, military, and Departments of Defense traffic. Civilian vehicles will go through a screening process. Drivers get screened, Soldiers conducts a vehicle check by looking under and inside the vehicle. The civilian vehicles go through the Mobile Vehicle and Cargo Inspection System (MVACIS) machine. The MVACIS is a mobile x-ray machine that scans the entire vehicle and its cargo for any explosives. Bomb sniffing dogs are also brought in to sniff and signal. If the dog sits, that means everyone get back. A second dog is brought in to verify. Some of the problems we faced are the dogs detecting residue from explosive chemicals picked up on the roadways.
ECP 2 was the main gate for pedestrian walkers. All local citizens are searched and walk through an airport-like scanner. Retina scanners are also used to check identification of Iraqi workers. Our Soldiers worked a badging system with temporary and permanent workers. The system allowed us to become familiar with the civilians and making our job a little easier. ECP 5 had similar characteristics like ECP 1 and 2 just on a smaller scale being it was an interior entry control point. ECP 7 is an entry control point for only military vehicles. Like ECP 1, ECP 7 has local villagers living right outside their location. Our Soldiers would frequently hear shots being fired at them while on duty. Bullets would be flying around our heads, hitting the ground around us, and striking the cement barriers positioned on the lanes. Once we established positive identification on the shooters our Soldiers quickly return fire.
Perimeter Towers
The 2nd Battalion, 299 Infantry “Koa Battalion”, Koa which means Warrior in Hawaiian language, was given the task to man 12 perimeter towers surrounding Victory Base Complex. Most of the towers overlooked ECP 1, 2, and 7 providing our own Soldiers with that sense of protection. Mosque monitoring was conducted in one of the towers close to ECP 2. This was very critical in order to keep in touch with the “pulse” of the neighboring villages. Koa Battalion had two sniper towers which provided and over watch to ECP 1. Our best marksmen along with spotters were designated in these towers with their M24 Sniper Weapon System (SWS).
During the deployment our battalion faced the problem of manpower boots on ground. This called for the Koa Battalion staff to help assist in manning the perimeter towers for 3 months. The staff was now on a 12 hour shift with all their gear on. This was quite a challenge for some Soldiers while others enjoyed the fact of getting out of the operations center and the staff shops. The Koa staff came to one mutual agreement that tower duty calls for a lot of self-discipline for 12 hours. Our NCO`s and enlisted performed an outstanding job in keeping Victory Base Complex a safe place from any insurgency attacks.
Al Faw Palace Security
The Al Faw Palace was one of 8 presidential palaces that were used for recreation and hunting by Saddam Hussein and his family. The palace is 450,000 sq. ft with 29 bathrooms and 62 rooms. The bathrooms are beautifully decorated with gilded metal work and marble façade. The palace is constructed of brass, plastic, wood, glass, and marble. In this palace you would find 30 or more General Officers making sure the Global War on Terrorism is a success. Koa Battalion had a 24 man detail managing the control access gate leading into the palace. Our Soldiers would continuously patrol in the parking lot areas and inside the palace. Checking for proper badges and finding unsecured vehicles containing weapons and ammo became a popular event for the Soldiers of Koa. General Officers forgetting their pistols in the latrine became a habit forming event. One of our random antiterrorism measures was to run the K9 unit through the compound in search of any unwanted explosives. The outstanding leadership of our NCO`s kept the Al Faw Palace a safe place to conduct business. The palace will never forget the Hawaiian word of the day that was always posted on the main access gate.
Inner Perimeter Patrols
Two newly introduced M1114 “up-armored” High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) patrolled the inner areas of Victory Base Complex 24/7. Our inner perimeter patrols (IPP) consisted of 3 Soldiers per vehicle. The driver, truck commander (TC), and the gunner patrolled the area with their M240B`s and M249 SAW`s inspecting the perimeter walls for any type of breaching. This type of inspection patrol was very crucial for VBC`s Force Protection team. If any type of breaching was found it was reported and the engineers would take care of the problem. IPP conducted crater analysis if a rocket or mortar round entered the compound. Crater analysis is a vital step toward conquering the enemy's effort of firing mortars and rockets into the compound. By executing a simple analysis of the craters produced by enemy fire and by reporting the results, our IPP could provide valuable information about the enemy. Based off the analysis of the crater, we could determine an estimated direction and distance to the possible launch site of our enemy. IPP would set up traffic control points at random throughout VBC. Our Soldiers would check for proper badges of the third country nationals (TCN`s), and any type of safety violations. One of the random antiterrorism measures (RAM`s) was posting armed guards in front of the DFAC`s and PX`s checking on military ID`s or contractor`s badges. Once a week our IPP would exit out of ECP 1 to provide fuel for the two Paladin`s posted in front of the entry control point. The two Paladin`s or the M109A6, is a self-propelled tracked howitzer which included the M284 155mm main gun, computer fire-control system and a crew of four Soldiers. Three of the crew members work in the turret - this consists of the commander, gunner and loader. The driver maintains the controls in a forward hull position. I`m sure this gave the insurgents the second thought of planning any attack to the main ECP of Camp Victory. Koa Battalion learned quite quickly the importance of our IPP team. Their duties and responsibilities were conducted in highly professional manner which was critical to our base defense mission.
Combat Patrols
Koa Battalion conducted more than 2,000 combat patrols and over 30 battalion cordon search/knock missions during our deployment. We had over 100 small arms fire engagements and rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) attacks. Koa Battalion conducted joint operations with Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police units. In my opinion, the Iraqi Army units were more organized and disciplined than the Iraqi Police units. They were also less corrupt than the Iraqi Police. Our Soldiers enjoyed working with the Iraqi Army units because of how they treated the local people and their professionalism.
Al Furat is one of the neighboring villages right outside ECP 1. The Iraqi Police that worked in this area were made up mostly of Shia Muslims. This was always a problem in Al Furat because 90 percent of the population is Sunni Muslim. The Shia and Sunni differences caused much of the sectarian violence in our area of operations. Makasib, another village located near the area of ECP 7 had less Shia and fit in well with the Sunnis. There was far less sectarian violence in this village but was more of a threat from the insurgents. The main threat in this area was from improvised explosive devices (IED`s). Iraqi Family Village is near ECP 2 right outside VBC. This village is relatively safe and is home to citizens from all over Iraq. When the war started in 2003, many Iraqi people left their homes and fled to this once abandoned orphanage. Our mission was simple in this village; we basically keep everyone safe and worked with their local council to constantly improve the quality of life. Once a week our civil affairs section met with the panel of council members and talked about concerns and issues. Koa Battalion would provide medical assistance and help rebuild their infrastructure. Our goal was to provide better living conditions for all the people of Iraqi Family Village.
In the villages like Al Furat and Makasib we conducted targeted searches. Koa Battalion conducted this type of patrol in the early months of the deployment. The patrol would be sent to search a specific building, house, or area based on human intelligence (HUMINT) or an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). This type of patrolling was very common in Al Furat and Makasib. Insurgents and weapons caches were found by targeted searches. Sometimes, targeted searches were quickly executed, and frequently the cordon would have to be executed over and over in order to continue the search. One of my biggest concerns was making sure our dismounted Soldiers were supported from our gun trucks. Communications for our dismounts was also critical. An outstanding radio that was provided by our state was the secure XT-5000 Motorola radio. The platoon sergeants and higher carried this type radio on patrols which enhanced the multiband inter/intra team radio (MBITR). Having this type of communication, the patrol leader could stage a two-to-three-man team on a roof top supporting the search team and having that secure communications between the vehicles and the dismounts.
Koa battalion realized that hunting targets and kicking in doors were only one part of dealing with the insurgents. The most important part was creating that good relationship and helping establish an overall better way of living conditions in the villages. Using a proactive civil-military operations strategy, and different types of patrolling, Koa Battalion provided security, stability, and a finer way of life to the citizens of Iraqi Family Village, Al Furat, and Makasib.
Army National Guard and Reservist are very unique and bring a lot of skills and talent to the table. Every unit should make use of these strengths when given counterinsurgency operations. As Citizen-Soldiers, we consider ourselves a community-based organization. Not only are we trained in our military occupation skills, we are also trained to provide aide to our communities, respond to natural disasters, and other types of state emergencies. Through these combined assets, Koa Battalion`s base defense of Camp Victory proved to be a cohesive formula in establishing security and stable operations within our Area of Operations.
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