KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Members of 2nd Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Squadron, 75th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, currently operate in Kunar province, Afghanistan.
Incidentally, that particular province has been historically one of the most dangerous areas in Afghanistan - by the numbers. It is located in eastern Afghanistan along the Pakistan border, and six of the 10 Medal of Honor recipients operated in that province during Operation Enduring Freedom.
As members of the only infantry company in the squadron, they are called upon to deliver a lot because a lot is expected from Charlie Company on a daily basis. They provide mounted and dismounted patrols in support of the squadron's train, advise and assist mission.
On a recent mission, they traveled with several adviser teams to the Asadabad District Center to meet with members of the provincial government.
The platoon, led by 1st Lt. William H. Prosko, a 2012 West Point graduate and former football player, from the traditional hotbed of football talent Youngstown, Ohio, is an extremely professional unit; they have a routine prior to every mission that is well rehearsed and executed on a daily basis.
"All of the surrounding areas that we go to and take (Security Force Advise and Assist Teams) to are very secure," according to Spc. Robert T. Mikus, a native of the Mayfair neighborhood in Philadelphia. "But all of these (observation posts) that greater men before us fought to secure are what dominates this region, and that's why we are able to go do what we do."
Mikus, who joined the Army to challenge himself both physically and mentally, has found a place to be challenged by serving as a member of Task Force Widowmakers. They conduct their daily missions, physical training, maintain their equipment and get ready for the next day's mission.
"Once I got promoted to specialist, (Lt. Prosko) was looking for me to narrate the 'react to contact' portion of the brief," said Mikus
Mikus provides one of the more important parts of the patrol brief prior to departing on missions. This shows the confidence Prosko has in everyone in the platoon.
Actions like this have had the effect of keeping the team together and operating well. The afternoon following the mission to the district center, nearly the whole platoon was crammed into the passenger center waiting at the flight line for new team members to arrive at the base.
"Having our guys stay alert is the most important thing," said Prosko. "This is our mission, and we are going to go out and do it to the best of our ability."
Despite the environment the platoon is operating in, the platoon must still remain vigilant and fight complacency, even after 120 missions. One of the ways Prosko keeps his platoon from becoming complacent is to rotate personnel around to different positions. This allows him to test the knowledge of all the Soldiers and to make sure each member knows what to do upon any contingency.
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