Published: June 01, 2007
Aviation Soldiers Roll Outside The Wire
By Spc. Bryanna Poulin 
Sgt. Anthony Dill with the Wolverine Quick Reactionary Force team, 209th Aviation Support Battalion, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, walks with a local Iraqi girl during a recent mission in a Tikrit neighborhood. The Wolverines provide security for Contingency Operating Base Speicher and the 25th Special Troops Battalion area of operations in Iraq. Photo by Spc. Bryanna Poulin
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For the majority of Soldiers in an aviation brigade, their primary mission revolves around supporting aircrafts. Whether it's tracking an OH-58 landing or fueling a Blackhawk most aviation Soldiers have some task in aviation operations.
However, for a group of Soldiers with 209th Aviation Support Battalion, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade at Contingency Operating Base Speicher, officially known as the Wolverines Quick Reactionary Force (QRF), they have a wide array of roles that sometimes has nothing to do with aviation operations.
A group of Iraqi children from a nearby Tikrit neighborhood follow Wolverine Quick Reactionary Force Soldiers, from 209th Aviation Support Battalion, during a recent mission May 12. Photo by Spc. Bryanna Poulin
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"Although we are 25th CAB Soldiers, dealing with aircraft is just a small facet in what the Wolverines do," said Sgt. Chris Attkisson, with QRF Team two and also on his 5th deployment. "We all have different Military Occupational Specialties (MOS) that aren't mission specific to aviation operations....Soldiers were put together to form a QRF."
The two teams who have a myriad of skills, which compose bits and pieces of the battalion and have formed together to be able to perform every role within QRF.
"Every Wolverine can perform each task within the QRF team," Attkisson said. "One day I may be a gunner...the next day I am a driver, it really just depends on the mission."
A convoy of vehicles with the Wolverine Quick Reactionary Force, 209th Aviation Support Battalion, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, drives to a Tikrit neighborhood. The Wolverines primary mission is to control a situation involving a security related issue. Photo by Spc. Bryanna Poulin
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QRF is a mixture of Soldiers who are experts in their field, bringing together seasoned deployed Soldiers along with newer Soldiers to make a complete team.
"For Soldiers who are deployed for the first time, it allows them to learn something new and become better leaders in the future," noted Spc. Adam Hawn, a Wolverine Soldier with 209th ASB who is on his third deployment. "By merging experienced Soldiers, with the first time deployers' helps create a well rounded team."
Wolverines' primary mission is to control situations involving security related issues. The team reacts to anything from small arms fire to a downed Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV),
"If there is a BOLO mission (be on the look out for a suspicious vehicle) we wait for the vehicle and detain the passengers," Attkission said. "The missions change and we perform whatever the operation dictates."
A Soldier with 209th Aviation Support Battalion, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, Wolverines Quick Reactionary Force (QRF), dismounts a vehicle, after a recent mission to a Tikrit neighborhood, May 12. The QRF Team provides security for the entire 25th Special Troops Battalion, 25th Infantry Division. Photo by Spc. Bryanna Poulin
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Armed with previous deployment experience, MOS schooling and hands on training, the Wolverines face many challenges within their QRF duties.
From language barriers with the Iraqi populace; to children swarming the vehicles, asking for anything the Soldiers can give them, the Wolverines maintain tactical fortitude even in the harshest situations.
"When we go outside the perimeter, we understand the enemy shows no mercy to Coalition Forces," Attkisson said.
"It's a risk for IP's to be doing what they are doing because some Iraqi people look at them as traders," Attkission continued. "Yet, they know by standing up against anti-Iraqi forces they are doing a greater good for their country."
Soldiers with the Wolverine Quick Reactionary Force team, 209th Aviation Support Battalion, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade talk with local Iraqi Police about neighborhood activities in the Tikrit, Iraq area May 12. The QRF team provide security for all of COB Speicher and 25th Special Troops Battalion, 25th Infantry Division. Photo by Spc. Bryanna Poulin
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A slow but sure effort, Attkission believes Iraqi's are stepping up and taking the lead to becoming a more independent country, without the assistance of Coalition Forces.
"In the last three years alone, I have witnessed the Iraqi's not having anything to do with coalition forces, to now having an established alliance...small children even come up to United States Soldiers," Attkission said smiling.
"Wolverines are around the clock security for the COB," Hawn concluded. "25th CAB is complete and we provide security for the air and ground."
judythpiazza@gmail.com
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