'Outlaws' keep peace in Kirkuk

By Spc. Crystal Hudson, 29th MPADSeptember 16, 2011

'Outlaws' keep the peace in Kirkuk
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE WARRIOR, Iraq " Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Advise and Assist Task Force, 1st Infantry Division, conduct an interview with an Iraqi citizen during a patrol of Kirkuk, Iraq, Aug. 26, 2011. ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
'Outlaws' keep the peace in Kirkuk
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE WARRIOR, Iraq " Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Advise and Assist Task Force, 1st Infantry Division, inspect a train station on a dismounted patrol in Kirkuk, Iraq, Aug. 26, 2011. The Soldiers... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

"This is not like any other deployment," said 1st Lt. Dustin Vincent, platoon leader with 1st Bn., 5th FA Regt., and Dallas native, explaining that many of his noncommissioned officers spent previous deployments during Operation Iraqi Freedom actively pursuing insurgent activity, and needed to adjust focus for the U.S. mission in support of Operation New Dawn.

Every day, Soldiers of "Outlaw" platoon patrol, investigate suspicious activity, document changes and interview civilians.

"Our mission is to deter IRAM attacks by our presence," said Cpl. Cory Bell, artilleryman with 1st Bn., 5th FA Regt., and Amarillo, Texas native.

Bell added that there are challenges to having such a repetitive mission. Knowing the impact of their job keeps the platoon focused, he said.

The Soldiers work hard to balance their mission requirements, but often have little or no time to get haircuts, turn in laundry or eat at the dining facility due to the long hours, Vincent said.

When not actively patrolling the streets of Kirkuk, the Soldiers of 1st Bn., 5th FA Regt., set up observation posts overlooking the city, Vincent said.

The Soldiers have an intimate knowledge of the areas they patrol; a new hole in the ground or change in the landscape is easily noticed as a potential IED because of all the time they've spent in this environment, he added.

Just outside the gate, the artillerymen spotted suspicious holes on the side of the road while on patrol August 26. The platoon dismounted in order to talk to people digging the holes and discerned that they were contracted to put signs up on the side of the road.

Since the Outlaws took over the IRAM mission in July, there have been no rocket attacks in their patrol area, according to Vincent, who concluded, "The fear of getting caught stops a lot of people from acting."