Colonel John Bogdon has a few thoughts on why the air is so bad around FOB Rustamiyah, and it "ain't" the cigars. Click his photo to read "Bad Air - Cigars at FOB Rustamiyah."

Lieutenant Colonel (Chaplain)
Peter Baktis at "He Brews Cafe,"
Camp Liberty, Iraq. Click the photo
to read "Coffee with the MP Brigade
at 'He Brews' Cafe."

Soldier to Soldier: an Unexpected Gift

The mounted patrol that morning from a Combat Outpost known as Old MOD (MOD standing for Ministry of Defense, a former Iraqi Army base), was routine for the soldiers of the 108th Military Police Company (Warlords). But for me, the embedded writer, it was all new. The 108th MP Company has the unique distinction of being the only airborne and air assault qualified military police unit on the planet. For me, the old paratrooper, being back among airborne soldiers was a real treat.

As is the case with MPs, units will deploy from a variety of bases both Stateside and in Europe, for example and be attached in the combat zone to parent organizations. In Baghdad, the 108th MP Company belongs to the 95th Military Police Battalion that itself is part of the 18th Military Police Brigade. In case that sounds too simple, the chain of command is further complicated because MP units normally work for the Brigade Combat Team that has tactical responsibility for the area. As a consequence, the 108th MP Company commander, Captain Keith Edwards, answers to many masters.

On this days patrol we rolled north out of COP Old MOD, located in the district of 9 Nisan very near the dangerous Mahdi Army (known by soldiers as JAM for Jays al Mahdi) stronghold of Sadr City, toward an Iraqi Police station in Adhamiyah District. Edwards wanted to call on the IP commander there, assess the situation, and determine ways in which he and his soldiers could continue to improve things.

Edwards squad leader is Sergeant Andrew Utz. The 24-year old Utz is a native of Hornell, NY, and has been on active duty 6 years. He is on his third combat deployment. That morning Utz gave the pre-mission brief from a laptop computer projecting images against a white wall. Sadr City is going ape-shit again, Utz noted laconically, as part of the intel portion of the brief. Having run up against Mahdi Army types with AK-47s, rocket propelled grenades, mortars, rockets, and machine guns, none of the rest of the squad required amplification of his remarks.

As I came to learn was usual with military police mission briefings, Utz gave a comprehensive presentation and involved many in his squad. He called on them to recite rules of engagement, standard operational procedures, and immediate action drills that would be required in case of IED attack or encounter with VBEDs or JAM insurgents. Other potential enemies such as Badr Army or al Qaeda in Iraq drew a mention as did weather conditions, friendly forces in the area, and the latest serious incident reports.

Everyone in the squad was told of primary and alternate routes to be followed that day. In Iraq the Coalition forces adopt a convention of assigning code names to streets, thereby minimizing the confusion of using Iraqi names that might be misunderstood over a radio or lost in the heat of combat. Radio call signs were reviewed as were medical evacuation procedures, something everyone hoped would not be necessary.

As we rolled out of the gate at COP Old MOD, Sergeant Utzs voice over the radio alerted his squad to Put up your dukes in 3, 2, 1! The squad was locked and loaded, ready to fight.

We had a lot of ground to cover that day. Baghdad was baking under an early heat wave with temperatures hovering around 110 degrees in the shade. By the time we returned to the COP I had barely enough time to grab my gear and stuff it into a humvee for transfer back to Forward Operating Base Rustamiyah. Still I requested a squad photo and we gathered for that.

But Sergeant Utz missed the photo shoot. He had dashed off upstairs in the main building where the soldiers are quartered. Earlier in the day I mentioned that I really admired the 108ths physical training T-shirt, black with gold lettering and airborne wings on the back, and wished to purchase one. Not possible, he said. We all got these before we left the States and there are no extras. No problem, I replied.

Just before I re-mounted for the transfer, Utz dashed up with a black shirt in his hands. Will you take one of mine? he asked. Its used Im afraid. I was delighted! I held up the shirt and especially admired the large block lettering under the jump wings that proclaimed Jumpmaster.

Now, sir, you're a jumpmaster, right? Utz asked playfully. When I replied emphatically in the affirmative (You bet your ass I am!), he passed me the shirt, saying, Then this one is yours!

Back home I wear that black 108th MP Company PT shirt slightly faded from many washings with pride and honor every chance I get. It symbolizes for me the generosity of the American soldier particularly one very professional NCO as well as the nature of our soldiers: committed to the mission, reliant on each other, and dedicated to serving our country.

Bad Air - Cigars at FOB Rustamiyah Colonel John Bogdon has a few thoughts on why the air is so bad around FOB Rustamiyah, and it "ain't" the cigars.	The Face of War: Women in Combat Though it may still be controversial, Military Police women are potentially engaged in the fight every time a convoy rolls outside the wire. Hear the stories of several MPs in Iraq.	Who is That Masked Man? Despite their intimidating appearance, Interpreters are unarmed and rely completely on soldiers to protect them.
An ally and a favorite resource...

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