Colonel: State's soldiers in danger
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Click here to read more about the National Guard unit based in Janesville working at Camp Bucca, Iraq.
Some members of the Wisconsin Army National Guard in Iraq are participating in missions where they're exposed to potential attacks, while others risk attacks on their bases, their commander said Wednesday.
All of them are coping with temperatures that have climbed above 140 degrees.
Col. Steven Bensend, commander of the 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, spoke to Wisconsin news media in a satellite-relayed press conference Wednesday.
The 3,300 soldiers of the 32nd Brigade are stationed at locations around Iraq. Bensend said he was frustrated that he hadn't been able to visit all those units, yet.
Bensend said he has visited Camp Bucca in southern Iraq, where about 150 members of Alpha Company of the 132nd Support Battalion, based in Janesville and Elkhorn, are supporting prison-camp operations.
The prison camp at Camp Bucca is scheduled to be shut down in September, according to news reports, but Bensend said the 132nd Battalion would remain to support "other operations."
Limited satellite time precluded more questions about the soldiers' mission or how they're faring at Camp Bucca.
Units of the 32nd Brigade have transferred prisoners from Camp Bucca in southern Iraq to Camp Taji north of Baghdad, Bensend said, and other units also have performed missions "outside the fence."
"So we face many of same things as any combat force outside the wire" of the bases, Bensend said.
Bensend called the ability of insurgents to conduct operations "diminished greatly, and I think the Iraqis have continued that fight that we started with the American forces, and things are moving in the right direction."
Meanwhile, units inside their bases live under the threat of "indirect fire," but Bensend said measures are taken to mitigate that danger.
The military often refers to mortar and rocket attacks as "indirect fire," according to the Voice of America.
"We must remain vigilant, and we must continue to do our mission as we were trained and to take force protection very seriously," Bensend said.
Bensend took every opportunity to compliment his troops, saying they have adapted well and are doing "an incredible job" in completing their missions.
Troops have access to phone banks and computers, so they're able to contact their families regularly and easily and even participate in birthdays and anniversaries, Bensend said.
"I think that really adds to the morale of the soldiers when they can partake of their families a little bit when they're halfway across the world," he said.
Bensend thanked organizations in Wisconsin that are supporting the soldiers' families.
"When our families are well cared for, we can really focus on the mission," he said.
Soldiers are enduring temperatures higher than 140 degrees at Camp Bucca, Bensend said, but all their living quarters are air conditioned.
"Everything that we can air condition, we try to air condition because it would be very difficult to survive if we did not," he said.
After three months on the ground in Iraq, troops are just starting to hit their stride and settle in to the tasks they've been assigned, Bensend said.
While some U.S. troops might be coming home from Iraq earlier than scheduled, there's no indication the 32nd Brigade will be among them, Bensend said. The brigade has about six months left on its deployment.
Bensend said he has heard nothing but gratitude and other positive comments from the Iraqi officials he has met.
"I think this country is well on its way to standing on its own and doing its own thing," Bensend said.
The next big challenge, he said, will be elections in January.
Aug 3, 2009 at 12:34 p.m.
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My comment is all about the author whom I feel is out of line. Before titling an article that puts up a big red light of DANGER, you should do some research on how the military works in favor of the families morale and well being. The LAST thing you do is talk about how dangerous a situation is. I realize modern technology makes things easier as far as keeping in touch, but soldiers are told never to talk about their mission and the danger involved. Duh! We are in a war zone so of course there is danger present. The definition of war is as follows, "a state or period of armed hostility or active military operations". So is it really necessary to title an article the way it was? The title could have easily focused more on the changes made or conditions rather than a very small paragraph. The focus is always on the soldiers, but you need to stop an think about those left behind. They are just as much heroes as our enlisted and commissioned men and women. And the families need just as much support. Please be more cautious and positive in the future.
Aug 1, 2009 at 10:57 a.m.
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DREEC,
Thanks for taking time from your busy schedule to write a blog about some of the issues with deployments. I am a little confused, after reading your post I am not sure of what the problems are that you are addressing. If it is a private matter, have the soldier talk to his or her first line leader to help resolve the problem. We have chaplains on staff 24 hours per day, 7 days per week for any personal soldier issues that the soldier does not want to discuss with his or her first line leader. One of the things that make the United States armed forces successful is the hierarchy of the chain of command; this allows all soldiers to know exactly what their position is in relation to all other soldiers. If a soldier you know, has a specific problem that I can help address, my name is MSG Trelka, I am at Camp Bucca, Iraq I will gladly talk to them and work toward getting solutions or options.
Thanks again for caring enough to let me know we are not in a perfect world, MSG Trelka
Aug 1, 2009 at 8:05 a.m.
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Sounds like "dreec" is the one with issues. This is my second deployment, and as stated by "swtlilone2", it is the safest place to be. I am in a position to be able to speak to most of the Soldiers in Co A 132D BSB, and so far, there is no negativity. Yes, of course we miss our home and families, but this deployment, in my eyes, is going just fine. This comes from a guy who spent his first tour in "GunTrucks". There's alot of participation in the MWR events among other things here. So, if there are any "miserable" Soldiers here at FOB Bucca...they're hiding from me.
Aug 1, 2009 at 6:42 a.m.
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dreec...if you firmly believe that the Soldiers here are miserable, how do you explain SPC Morrow's blogs and the fact that roughly 30% are expressing interest in extending their tour by 3-6 months. Not to say there may be individual Soldiers or units out there with leadership or morale issues, but to issue a blanket condemnation of the whole deployment is just irresponsible. How many Soldiers have you talked to recently who have helped you come to this conclusion because I just read your post to three of them here at Camp Bucca who laughed at it.
Jul 31, 2009 at 8:07 p.m.
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dreec, I think you need to elaborate more instead of blanketing whatever issue you are having. There is LOTS of help for families you just have to access it.
Thank you to all the families and soliders!
Jul 31, 2009 at 5:37 p.m.
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getintotherealworld- Same as my boyfriend. He says its the safest place to be right now.
Jul 31, 2009 at 12:31 p.m.
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My husband is deployed with the CO A and his morale is very high and so our the soldiers
serving with him. He doesn't sound miserable to
me whenever I talk to him. Of course he misses his family just like we miss him. I also have no complaints I am taken care of just fine, like I said no complaints what so ever.
Jul 31, 2009 at 9:53 a.m.
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Quote:
When our families are well cared for, we can really focus on the mission
Sorry but that isn't the case... Maybe if they were actually able to take care of the families on the homefront our soldiers wouldn't be so miserable. The state needs to get their stuff together! It isn't like this is the 1st deployment that has ever happened...
Oh this makes me so mad! The state's people deserve to know how badly this deployment is going stateside and overseas!
Jul 30, 2009 at 8:38 p.m.
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"State's soldiers in danger".....
Gee, ya think?
Jul 30, 2009 at 6:39 p.m.
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God Bless all our Men and Women of the Armed Forces, and Thank you for all of your hard work.
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