|
|
|
Strac Trooper
 
Group: Registered User
Last Login: 8/7/2008 5:22 PM
Posts: 1,006,
Visits: 995
|
|
by Tech. Sgt. Eric M. Grill
455th Expeditionary Operations Group Public Affairs
6/4/2003 - OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM (AFPN) -- Two Air Force security forces airmen deployed to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, got what they called, “the chance of a lifetime,” June 1 when they embarked on a combat patrol in eastern Afghanistan with the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division.
Senior Airmen Luke Allen and Rusty Youngblood, both 820th Security Forces Squadron countersnipers at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., are deployed to the 455th Expeditionary Operations Group to defend Air Force Village in the event of an attack on Bagram. They said they believe this is the first time Air Force countersnipers and the Army have paired up in a combat mission.
The two countersnipers got their chance for the offensive mission when an 82nd Airborne’s patrol needed a couple of extra marksmen. The airmen had already worked with the Army on scout missions around the outskirts of the base, but not in an actual combat mission.
Their mission was to provide long-range reconnaissance, target acquisition and neutralization of any al-Qaida or anti-coalition forces target of opportunity.
“We were a little apprehensive at first,” said Youngblood, who attended the Air Force Countersniper School at Camp Joseph T. Robinson in Arkansas in December. “Training is training, but when you’re going into combat, you’re always a little apprehensive. But, at the same time, I was excited and wanted to go kick some (butt).”
Both airmen said that there was some of the usual banter between the two rival services, like everyone referring to the duo as “those Air Force snipers.” But, when it came time to perform the mission, it was all business.
The first contact with enemy forces came June 2, when six 107 mm rockets were fired toward the patrol in the area of Takurghal, the same area where Operation Anaconda took place. In that March 2002 battle, two airmen, Tech. Sgt. John Chapman and Senior Airman Jason Cunningham, and six other Americans were killed.
“At first we saw a flash off in the distance, and we were trying to figure out what the flash was,” Youngblood said. “Then we heard the incoming artillery and took cover.”
One of those rockets hit the ground about 300 meters from the patrol’s location.
The patrol was on a mountain peak about 11,000 feet above sea level. Allen said after the rocket attack, he ran to the end of the peak and positioned himself where he had full view of the entire area. Using night-vision goggles, he found the enemy forces about 3,000 meters away -- too far for his M-24, single-shot rifle. Close-air support was called in and provided by Danish F-16s, Air Force AC-130 gunships and Army Apache helicopters.
The patrol spotted three different groups of enemy forces, totaling about 15 people, Allen said, and chased them for a little while.
They got as close as 1,000 meters, Youngblood said, but no contact was actually made.
There was another rocket attack on the pair’s patrol the next morning, where a second rocket landed within a few hundred meters of the pair’s position.
“I was just hoping that those rockets wouldn’t land on us,” Allen said.
Describing the experience as more surreal than a life-and-death experience, Allen said the combat mission “felt more like a game or a training exercise,” but also said he took what he was doing very seriously.
“You can never be trained enough for these missions, but the soldiers we were working with were exceptionally trained,” he said.
There were no coalition injuries reported in either of the rocket attacks, Youngblood said.
“I would definitely do it again, no questions asked,” Allen said. “It was a great opportunity, and I’m happy that the Army let us go along with them.”
For Youngblood, this was his opportunity to use the training that Air Force and Army instructors provided.
“Between countersniper school and follow-on training, we were prepared for this mission,” Youngblood said. “In security forces training, we use Army field manuals and teach Army maneuvers. To actually come over here and use the training in an offensive mission is what I was hoping for.
“I would love to do it again,” he said.
The countersnipers might get that chance as they continue to do scout missions in defense of the base.
 
Fighters are our salvation, But BOMBERS alone provide us with the means of VICTORY! - Winston Churchill
|
|
|
|
|
Regular Joe
Group: Registered User
Last Login: 12/29/2003 5:29 AM
Posts: 125,
Visits: 1
|
|
Well done job, Airmen!....It's interesting thing, You know: counter-snipersused in offensive action...Good Luck!
"Polish soldier fights for freedom of other nations, but dies only for Poland" - Gen Stanislaw Maczek (1892 - 1994)
|
|
|
|
|
Seasoned Vet
Group: Past PNET Supporter
Last Login: 9/7/2005 7:22 PM
Posts: 6,666,
Visits: 289
|
|
HOOAH!!![thumbUp][thumbUp]
So when do we get to fly the planes?[ ][:o)]
|
|
|
|
|
BS6's Dude
Group: Community Supporter
Last Login: 11/16/2008 1:14 PM
Posts: 3,043,
Visits: 4,285
|
|
The reason they call them counter-snipers is that they're not supposed to do offensive operations. Sedcurity Forces are supposed to be used for defensive operations in support of USAF assets world-wide.
This shows they are definitely capable of more than limited defensive operations. Especially if the 82nd thought enough of them to invite them along...
Hoo-YAH!
|
|
|
|
|
Seasoned Vet
Group: Registered User
Last Login: 10/2/2005 10:13 PM
Posts: 5,502,
Visits: 70
|
|
Does that qualify them for an Army CIB?
Go with God, but make Him walk the point.
If you load a mudfoot down with a lot of gadgets he has to watch somebody a lot more simply equipped - say with a stone axe - will sneak up and bash his head in while he is trying to read a Vernier. - Robert Heinlein
|
|
|
|
|
Strac Trooper
Group: Registered User
Last Login: 8/7/2008 5:22 PM
Posts: 1,006,
Visits: 995
|
|
Unfortunately, The AF doesn't recognize any form of the EIB. I know many prior Army-now-Blue Troopers who were EIB/CIB in the army, but on their AF uniform, they wear Air Assault and Jump wings. Jump wings in the AF aren't that rare, but Air Assault is.
Shoot, they won't even let us have expert rifle/pistol qualification badges...we get a tootie-fruitie color ribbion...OUT-FREAKING-STANDING...I wonder which of McNamara's wiz kids thought of that one..
Fighters are our salvation, But BOMBERS alone provide us with the means of VICTORY! - Winston Churchill
|
|
|
|
|
Air Force Liaison/P.Net Original Cast of Characters
Group: Community Supporter
Last Login: Today @ 6:34 AM
Posts: 3,382,
Visits: 9,039
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by warpusher
Unfortunately, The AF doesn't recognize any form of the EIB. I know many prior Army-now-Blue Troopers who were EIB/CIB in the army, but on their AF uniform, they wear Air Assault and Jump wings. Jump wings in the AF aren't that rare, but Air Assault is.
Hell, I wear my EIB on my BDUs above my flight wings and even got one that I wear on my flight suit. I've never been questioned. The AFI doesn't forbid it, because like most other AFI's it was poorly written. So until an AFI is written to make it unauthorized, then I may take it off.
LOAD CLEAR! LOAD CLEAR! Your Job is my Hobby!
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | |