us soldiers see iraq convoys safe to kuwait
Last Updated : GMT 05:17:37
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice
Last Updated : GMT 05:17:37
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice

US soldiers see Iraq convoys safe to Kuwait

Emiratesvoice, emirates voice

Emiratesvoice, emirates voice US soldiers see Iraq convoys safe to Kuwait

Iraq - Agencies

US soldiers put on body armour and check vehicles and weapons at a base near Baghdad, preparing for 10-plus hours on the lookout for danger as they escort a convoy to Kuwait. Final checks complete, the soldiers climb aboard their MRAP (Mine-Resistant, Ambush Protected) armoured vehicles, falling into a long line of white-cabbed trucks carrying equipment south from the sprawling Victory Base Complex (VBC) on Baghdad's outskirts. US President Barack Obama announced on October 21 that all US oldiers would depart Iraq by year's end, and much of the equipment they are taking with them travels by road to the Gulf emirate of Kuwait. "We're a brigade out of Kuwait, and what we do is we're the gun truck portion ... we escort, approximately four military semi-trucks and then approximately, anywhere from 30 to 40" civilian-driven trucks, First Lieutenant Andy Krochalk told AFP before the convoy departed. "We provide the local security for 'em," said Krochalk, a platoon leader in the 1st combined arms battalion, 1st brigade combat team, 34th infantry division. "Usually once a week or so we'll head up somewhere in Iraq, one of the bases, we'll show up here, and they'll get loads of stuff pulling out ... and then essentially we escort 'em back down to Kuwait," Krochalk said. This will be followed by a break ranging from a few days to over a week, and "then we'll turn around and come back" to do it all over again. With "no problems, you're looking at about 10 hours" from the Baghdad area to Kuwait, he said. But "that trip can turn into 20-plus, depending on break-downs," he said, adding that there are sometimes stops at bases in between, but not always. For the first two months after his unit arrived in July, the focus was on escorting supply convoys up to bases in Iraq, but "we got switched half-way through because there was a little bit more of a push to get the equipment out," he said. His unit will continue with this mission until the withdrawal is completed, he said. "To be a part of this pullout is pretty neat, it's pretty rewarding," he said. Asked if the long journeys through potentially hostile territory were nerve-racking, Krochalk said "yes and no." "A lot of guys that have been here before, you know, we know our little areas where historically stuff had happened, so you do get a little nervous in certain areas," he said. But "you definitely see the Iraqis being a lot more proactive than (when) I was here last time" in 2005-2006, he said, so "that's definitely obviously a plus to see that." "There's only a handful of times where I think I've actually felt very nervous out here." Specialist Kyle Beaulieu-Sanders, who is on his first overseas deployment, is a gunner on one of the MRAPs. The "whole time, I'm up in the turret," he said. "The whole trip, I sit up top." His job "is to provide overwatch, I'm the eyes on the road, as far as marking debris and stuff in the road for the rest of the convoy ... just making sure that all the trucks are aware of what's coming ahead, since we are the front truck." "It's just constant suspense, you could say, because you never know what's out there," he said. "You're always eyes open, eyes on the road, trying to make sure that you don't miss something." "For the most part, that keeps you on your toes, that keeps the adrenaline going -- making sure that you don't miss anything, for your sake and for the rest of the convoy behind you." Private First Class Joseph Arens, who is also on his first deployment, is the driver of another MRAP. "After a while, it gets a little long, sitting in the truck. We're always on the lookout ... just making sure we're picking the right path to drive through, following the trucks in front of you, making sure nobody comes up behind you," he said. "At first it was pretty stressful, but then you kind of get used to the stress. But you're still always on top of things, keeping a good lookout," Arens said. "I don't mind driving," he said. "I'd rather drive instead of sitting up in the top in the elements, gunning." There are usually one or two convoys leaving VBC per day, though not all are escorted by Kuwait-based soldiers, said Captain Andrea Hahn, the VBC garrison command public affairs officer. The convoys carry a mix of military and civilian equipment, she said. "It's really good to see this kind of movement going on because it just shows that VBC is finally closing down and we're getting out of here," Hahn said. As of November 20, 2.1 million pieces of equipment had been taken out of Iraq, while 400,000 remained to be removed, according to Major Kim Rey, a spokeswoman for United States Forces - Iraq.  

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

us soldiers see iraq convoys safe to kuwait us soldiers see iraq convoys safe to kuwait

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

us soldiers see iraq convoys safe to kuwait us soldiers see iraq convoys safe to kuwait

 



GMT 19:57 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

Farm-fresh from Kerala to the UAE, in just one day

GMT 05:17 2024 Wednesday ,07 February

Amazon to open first cashierless shop

GMT 10:08 2018 Wednesday ,24 January

Microsoft to open 4 data centres

GMT 19:20 2017 Sunday ,12 November

Bapco: Saudi-Bahrain oil supplies resume

GMT 12:02 2017 Friday ,15 December

EU says 15,000 migrants to exit Libya in two months

GMT 08:31 2017 Wednesday ,01 November

Dina role in “The Flood” underlined her talent

GMT 05:04 2024 Tuesday ,06 February

Skincare PR Performance Full Year 2017

GMT 14:26 2017 Thursday ,13 July

Athletics: Mo Farah 'sick' of doping allegations

GMT 13:09 2017 Thursday ,27 July

India is the toughest place in the world

GMT 11:45 2017 Sunday ,12 February

4 things to support your heart health

GMT 16:33 2015 Friday ,10 July

Paramount Pictures and AMC announce new deal

GMT 01:51 2014 Friday ,20 June

Boris, Blair and Iraq
 
 Emirates Voice Facebook,emirates voice facebook  Emirates Voice Twitter,emirates voice twitter Emirates Voice Rss,emirates voice rss  Emirates Voice Youtube,emirates voice youtube  Emirates Voice Youtube,emirates voice youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

emiratesvoieen emiratesvoiceen emiratesvoiceen emiratesvoiceen
emiratesvoice emiratesvoice emiratesvoice
emiratesvoice
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
emiratesvoice, Emiratesvoice, Emiratesvoice