Cavalry Soldiers See Improvements

By Sgt. Robert Yde
2nd BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE ECHO — After a little more than a week of operations in city of Diwaniyah, Soldiers with Task Force 1-14th Cavalry, attached to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, continue to make strides toward restoring security in an area that has seen an increase in militia activity after a couple of years with no steady coalition presence.

“We came here to do a mission, and we came here to accomplish handing over security to a follow on unit, whether that’s IA (Iraqi army) or IP (Iraqi police),” Troop A commander, Capt. Gerald Resmondo said April 15. “I think we’ve just about completed the mission.”

For the past week, these cavalry troops have been out patrolling the neighborhoods of Diwaniyah. They target different neighborhoods each day, search the houses and buildings within that area, talk to the locals about problems in the area and pass out cards with information and a tip-line number, which can be called to report suspicious activities.

“We’re going to houses looking for weapons, and not only that, but we’re establishing a presence in the neighborhood,” explained Spc. Adam Brookshire of Troop A.

(PHOTO: Spc. Adam Brookshire (left) and Staff Sgt. Jason Jones, both with Troop A, Task Force 1-14th Cavalry, attached to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, make their way up a staircase while clearing a house in Diwaniyah, Iraq, April 15. Photo by Spc. Robert Yde.)

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