1st Lt. Rob Schenker said, "the enemy attacks the outpost an average of 7 times a week. Quiet days or evenings often erupt with automatic weapons fire, and the explosive crash of mortar rounds. Schenker, who commands 1st Plt, said, "the fights are common enough that nearby residents sometimes don’t even bother to take cover."
An ANA plt share the responsibility of guarding the base, which sits near the opening of the Narang Valley. This territory, in turn, connects the area with the infamous Korengal Valley and its crop of insurgent fighters.
ISAF and the ANA placed the base here to help stem the flow of this enemy activity southward into the more populated Kunar Valley. “It’s pretty much the tip of the spear,” Schenker said.
Living a combat lifestyle: Forget the Internet; forget running water. The Soldiers at COP Badel are happy to finally have electricity. There are no phone lines, no televisions and no dining facilities. The closest thing to a recreation area contains a few pieces of weight equipment and a lifting bench protected by sandbags. Flies are a constant annoyance.
Most of the troops here live in crowded bunkers constructed from sandbags or dirt-filled Hesco barriers. At the end of July, U.S. Army engrs ran electricity to the bunkers and added lights and a/c inside – creating a huge morale boost for the Soldiers. Spc. Andrew Barnett described daily life prior to the arrival of a/c as “hardcore camping meets a 2-way shooting range.”
Barnett, a former military firefighter who now works as a gunner, described their unit as “easygoing, but aggressive” which has learned to deal with the combination of long stretches of boredom and intense firefights.
Meals are either pre-packaged rations or food cooked by the Soldiers themselves over handmade fires. Occasionally, the meals are rounded out by fresh fruit brought from nearby COP Fortress. Despite the lack of comforts, many of the Soldiers said they'd rather be stationed here, than a more populated base elsewhere. Here, they can concentrate on their jobs without the distractions that can come with a large military post.
“Time goes by a lot quicker,” said Pfc. Stephen Millington. “We’re always busy.”
Millington, a 22-year-old ammo bearer, said 1st plt has a wide variety of experience, with its members coming from places such as Mississippi, California and Mexico. He said they spend much of their time joking about each other’s background.
Their plt is not the only one that serves at COP Badel. In order for the Soldiers to experience an occasional shower and online contact with their friends and families, the other plts from Co B temporarily switch out and run the base for a few days.
Vigilance pays dividends: The Soldiers at COP Badel stand a constant guard against the enemy. In addition to concrete watchtowers, they use heavily armored vehicles, and remote cameras to monitor activity around the base. The post also serves as a staging area for large-scale ops against insurgents in the Narang Valley. When the unit isn’t dealing with firefights, it often goes into the community and works with the local govt to strengthen its ties with residents.
Upgrades to the base defenses are a constant effort. Since the enemy can shoot at Solders from any number of hidden positions on the nearby mountainside, the unit has added numerous sandbag barriers in a variety of locations on the post. “We try to make it so we have places to go, no matter where they’re firing from,” said Cpl. Luke Starkey.
The U.S. Soldiers are required to wear all their protective gear anytime they make the steep hike up or down the hill. "Of course, since those Soldiers have less cover on the rock-strewn hillside, they've fewer choices when the shooting starts," Starkey said. “You can run up or run down,” he said with a smile.
Starkey, who serves as a team leader, said that the fact their plt is responsible for its own security, allows the Soldiers to more easily share their input on any needed changes. “We all rely on each other to survive,” he said. “It’s a team effort to keep this place running.”
What is the worst vector problem pestering Soldiers in a deployed environment? “Flies! We have tons of flies and mosquitoes, and mosquitoes are so much worse, because it’s harder to see them,” said Army Capt. Susan Gosine, officer-in-charge of PM at FOB Fenty, in Jalalabad.
Although vector control accounts for a large portion of the issues that PM handles, it's not the only concern of Gosine. She is, overall, responsible for the environmental safety of the FOB’s residents, including living conditions, food preparation and water.
Mosquitoes and sand flies present a particular challenge, because they can be carriers of vector-borne diseases such as Malaria. Soldiers deployed overseas are directed to take medication to prevent them from contracting the disease, though many Soldiers forget to take their pills. There were 29 cases of Malaria reported in 2009, mostly due to Soldiers forgetting to take their prescribed antibiotics. “I specifically want to emphasize Malaria awareness,” said Army Lt. Col. Joseph Llanos, a PM doctor for the 101st AD, based out of Bagram Airfield. The highest risk for servicemembers is during the months of Aug. and Sept.
PM is extremely important to troops in a field situation. If war fighters are not kept fit to fight, then their ability to accomplish the mission is greatly degraded. That's why Gosine and her team regularly visit outlying COPs and FOBs in the TF Bastogne area of ops.
“Well, if you consider past wars, PM is very important, because you can lose troops to something as simple as diarrhea,” said Gosine. Even the common cold can be a combat degrader, but signs in the dining facility and the latrines remind Soldiers to practice good personal hygiene techniques.
The site was investigated and the Taliban bodies were turned over to ANP, while the IED, the command wire, and several RPGs were destroyed in place.
This failed emplacement follows another failed attack that occurred Sep. 1, in Khowst District located in Khowst Prov. In this attempted suicide attack, a Taliban fighter accelerated a vehicle toward an ISAF route clearance patrol operating in the area. When the vehicle’s driver attempted to detonate his VBIED, only the initiation device exploded, killing him instantly, but not setting off the IED. The vehicle was cordoned off by ANSF and ISAF forces, setting up a 300-meter safety zone, and destroyed with a controlled detonation. No damage or injuries were reported.
Photos by Spc. Charles Smith
Photos by Spc. Charles Smith
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