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Day in the life - Personal security for 'the man'

By Spc. Aaron Rosencrans

2nd SBCT PAO, 25th Inf. Div., MND-B

The mission sounds simple: Protect the colonel and his entourage at all cost.

It may seem easy enough to some, but when you factor in the dynamic battlefield Soldiers face in Iraq - such as moving by foot in a town or city with plenty of buildings for the enemy to hide in and attack from or numerous other unknown variables that threaten the security of a walking patrol - the challenge can prove somewhat daunting.

Accomplishing the mission is just another day at work for Multi-National Division - Baghdad's Sgt. Tyrel Tierney, a native of New Orleans, who serves as a brigade commander Personal Security Detachment shift leader with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team "Warrior," 25th Infantry Division.

Sgt. Tyrel Tierney (left), a native of New Orleans and a brigade commander Personal Security Detachment shift leader, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, briefs his team before leaving for a battlefield circulation with his unit's senior leaders Feb. 5.(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Aaron Rosencrans, 2nd SBCT PAO, 25th Inf. Div., MND-B)

Whenever Col. Todd McCaffrey, a Hudson, Ohio, native, and commander of the Warrior Bde,, leaves the camp, Tierney and his team are called upon to ensure he has a safe and secure environment to conduct his business and return back safely.

However, the mission of Tierney's team does not start when they roll out of the gate; instead, the mission begins well before anyone even straps on their body armor.

"Before we go out on missions, the night prior, I'll get the mission and find out what exactly we're going to do," Tierney said. "Once I find that out, I start working on the routes and see if there have been any significant activities on those routes. I also have to coordinate with other units in the area, making sure they know we're coming. If there's going to be a meeting, I make sure there will be extra security there for us."

After Tierney reaches the objective site, his role as a leader changes.

Sgt. Tyrel Tierney (left), a native of New Orleans and a brigade commander Personal Security Detachment shift leader, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, briefs his team before leaving for a battlefield circulation with his unit's senior leaders Feb. 5. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Aaron L. Rosencrans, 2nd SBCT PAO, 25th Inf. Div., MND-B)

"Once we get to where we're going, I'm the dismount security leader so I'm in charge of all dismounted security," said Tierney. "If another unit is there with its own security in place, I assess the situation and make sure the security that is in place is good enough for the colonel to enter."

If the security is not up to his standards, Tierney said he assumes control over the units on the ground and brings the security situation up to par.

"If it's not secure, then once we get there, I take charge of that element that's on the ground and push their security personnel to where I want them to be. If we need to beef up the security, then I'll push some of my guys to their positions they're already at so the security is good for the colonel."

To keep his Soldiers up to standard, Tierney said he and his noncommissioned officer peers routinely have training sessions along with continually discussing the unit's standard operating procedures with his team.

Sgt. Tyrel Tierney (left), a native of New Orleans and a brigade commander Personal Security Detachment shift leader, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, briefs his team before leaving for a battlefield circulation with his unit's senior leaders Feb. 5. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Aaron L. Rosencrans, 2nd SBCT PAO, 25th Inf. Div., MND-B)

"For training, we always run through our SOPs on how to react to an IED, react to small-arms fire or react to sniper fire," Tierney said. "We run through those every morning, and we also run through escalation of force with the Soldiers to make sure there aren't any accidents while we're out on mission.

"We also train the Soldiers hard on making sure they have positive identification of any threats before they engage," Tierney added. "We do this to make sure the Soldiers fully understand the proper force they need to use to handle any situation."

Since December, Tierney and his team have completed several successful missions, and all have been conducted without any complications.

However, he said he had a scary couple moments while he was getting to know the area with the previous unit.

"When I first got here, before my section got here, I was out with (1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division), getting to know the area, and we had two IEDs in one day," Tierney said.

He said the first area, where the team was attacked by the first IED, still causes his mouth to water.

"I get really quiet and really nervous right in that area," he said. "But other than that, nothing has really scared me out here yet."

One of Tierney's fellow leaders said he is one of the best Soldiers in the unit, and he is professional with the way he conducts his business.

"He is the best tactical guy we have here," said Staff Sgt. Wesley Drake, a native of Houston, and a communications NCO with the PSD team. "He always runs a tight show and makes sure his Soldiers are always on point."

Besides ensuring the safety of McCaffrey and the other people who go out on patrol, Tierney, as a noncommissioned officer, has other responsibilities and duties to take care of.

"He makes sure his Soldiers are always up to speed with their training," Drake said.

When Tierney has some time to himself, he said he enjoys going to the gym to blow off some steam and talking to his daughters.

"For me, the gym helps me relax and take my mind off of work for that day," he said.

"I try to make contact with my three daughters as much as possible, but it's hard because of the high op-tempo and the time difference," he said.

Although the challenge of a busy schedule often leads to less personal time, Tierney continues to challenge himself and other leaders in the Army.

"A lot of times, when the op-tempo gets really high, some NCOs overlook taking care of their Soldiers - especially with training," he said. "It is our duty to make sure every Soldier gets the training they need and the help they need when they are having a hard time with their Families back home. Get into their lives and help them out when they need it."