It’s spring and the IEDs are blooming in Panjawa’i.
The soldiers speak of the “season” starting. After the winter rains, the IEDs begin reappearing in earnest.
The soldiers of Charger Co. 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment go through a series of drills before each mission to check their gear and keep their skills fresh. One drill includes walking an IED lane.
A soldier in the lead–on point–walks with a Vallon, a metal detector. He sweeps the Vallon back and forth listening for a beep, anything that might indicate metal. It could be a discarded battery; it could be an IED.
“It’s all part of our pre-combat check,” said Sgt. Jeremy Gray, 26, of Anchorage, Ak., of the IED drill they conduct before each patrol.
Sgt. Jeremy Gray, 26, of Anchorage, Ak., probes the ground around a possible IED during a drill with Charger Co. soldiers before a patrol near Khenjakak. Pfc. Nick Replogle posts security. Copyright 2012 Cheryl Hatch
During a drill before a patrol, Sgt. Jeremy Gray, 26, from Anchorage, Ak., "interrogates" the ground where his Vallon metal detector got a hit. He's probing for a possible IED. In the background, Sgt. Brody Staman goes prone after discovering an IED while walking the lane. Copyright 2012 Cheryl Hatch
“It looks like a pressure plate,” said Sgt. Brody Staman, after probing the ground.
Sgt. Brody Staman, 24, from Scotts Bluff, Neb., clears the dirt around a pressure-plate IED during a drill at Khenjakak on Feb. 11, 2012. Copyright 2012 Cheryl Hatch
Upon discovering an IED, Staman goes prone and begins to clear the dirt from around the device.
“I don’t mean to be rude. To put it blunt, ma’am, it will make your butt hole pucker,” Staman said, of the feeling he experiences in the field as he clears the earth around an IED.
Sgt. Brody Staman, 24, from Scotts Bluff, Neb., clears the dirt around a pressure-plate IED during a drill at Khenjakak on Feb. 11, 2012. Copyright 2012 Cheryl Hatch
Sgt. Brody Staman, 24, from Scotts Bluff, Neb., finishes clearing the dirt around a pressure-plate IED during a drill on Feb. 11, 2012. The Vallon metal detector he uses to search for IEDs is behind him. Copyright 2012 Cheryl Hatch
The men who carry the Vallons and clear the path for those who follow do it to spare their fellow soldiers the risk.
“Somebody’s got to do it. And I don’t want my guys to do it,” Staman said. “So as a leader, that’s a responsibility we take. “
Feb 27, 2012 @ 12:45:34
As a journalist and an Army wife, I find you lead to be horrendous! IEDs blooming? This isn’t a joke, soldiers are dying and coming home in pieces to something you treat like a flower. The rest of the story isn’t bad but you used an incredibly poor choice of words and should have thought about your audience when writing it.
Feb 27, 2012 @ 13:53:36
Thank You for this report on my son SGT Staman and his fellow soldiers.
Feb 27, 2012 @ 15:34:55
Hello Ms. Staman: You are most welcome. Your son is a well-spoken professional. He walked me through the entire process and I certainly understand your pride–and your fear. Thank you. Cheryl
Feb 28, 2012 @ 08:16:42
I don’t think any mother really wants ‘their son’ to be put in harms way. I admire you and all the other mothers, spouses and family members of our soldiers. I have a nephew in Afganistan – so I know how we worry about them but at the same time we are so very proud of them. We all should thank God every day for these men and women so serve to protect us and pray that God will protect and keep them safe and bring them back home to their loved ones. Thank you for sons like yours.
Feb 28, 2012 @ 09:30:25
How exciting to read all about the work they do! My husband is Sgt Gray, thank you so much for sharing this information! I will be sending your link to all of our family and friends, thanks again!