Published: July 01, 2009
Safety is Standard Operating Procedure for Lifeline Battalion
By Staff Sgt. Peter Ford
BAGHDAD - Cpl. Dustin Spear, of Placerville, Calif., a convoy security detachment team leader, performs checks on a blue force tracker in a humvee here at Camp Liberty, June 29. Lifeline Soldiers perform many checks before starting their mission.
Photo: Staff Sgt. Peter Ford, MND-B PAO |
BAGHDAD - Practicing safety is a standard operating procedure of the 299th "Lifeline" Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division. Hours before each mission, Soldiers of the 299th BSB are required to attend briefings and convoy rehearsals before starting their journey to support Soldiers on forward operating bases throughout Baghdad.
"We have briefings and rehearsals before each mission because we are concerned for the safety and welfare of our Soldiers," said 1st Lt. Dwain Settles, a Universal City, Texas, native and executive officer assigned to Company C, 299th BSB, 2nd Bde, 1st Inf. Div. "Soldiers are the most valuable asset on the battlefield," he added.
During the convoy briefings, Soldiers of the 299th BSB are quizzed on the primary and secondary convoy routes. They are questioned about different scenarios that could occur while on mission and they are also required to know the responsibilities of each job within the vehicle.
"Lifeline Soldiers are required to be familiar with all jobs on the convoy just in case someone gets hurt and can't perform a particular job. This will allow us to continue the mission without it being compromised," said Sgt. Tommy Evans, of Hereford, Texas and convoy security detachment noncommissioned officer in charge assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 299th BSB, 2nd Bde., 1st Inf. Div. "Our job is to be well prepared for any incident that may occur. The better prepared we are the less likely the chance of having an incident," he added.
BAGHDAD - Sgt. Tommy Evans, of Hereford, Texas, convoy security detachment noncommissioned officer in charge, watches as Spc. Derek Watson (left) of Stillwell, Kan. and Spc. Seth Oldre, of Blaine, Minn., both HHC, 299th BSB Soldiers demonstrate the loading and unloading procedures for an M249 Squad Automatic Weapon, here at Camp Liberty, June 29. Loading and clearing weapons are part of the standard operating procedures put in place to maintain safety.
Photo: Staff Sgt. Peter Ford, MND-B PAO |
Lifeline Soldiers also prepare for missions through the use of convoy rehearsals. These rehearsals make Soldiers aware of the placement of recovery vehicles in the lineup. Knowing where recovery vehicles are located in a convoy is an important factor if a hasty vehicle recovery is needed.
"It is important each one of our Soldiers is familiar with our standard operating procedures so they can react instinctively to a situation such as a vehicle breakdown or an improvised explosive device attack," said Evans. "The training we go through before each mission helps to build muscle memory."
According to Evans and Settles, safety is stressed every day by their battalion commander and battalion sergeant major. "The chain of command does not stress safety because they are required to, I think they stress safety because they care," Evans added.
The 299th BSB has not had any major incidents because strict safety procedures and the welfare of their Soldiers are a primary part of their standard operating procedures. The standards set by the 299th BSB have become habits and these habits are evident in the discipline displayed by the Soldiers of the unit.
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