PARTNERS IN THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR

SAR Staff — Sat, 01 Oct 2005 00:02:00 +0000

Photo Essay By Robert Bruce

Capt. Paul Stanton from B Co. 2nd Bn. 502nd Inf. Regt. 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) briefs Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker, the Chief of Staff of the Army and Maj. Gen. David H. Petraues, commander of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) as they conduct a foot patrol in Mosul, Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Gen. Schoomaker is visiting the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) area of responsibility on August 21, 2003. Released U. S. Army photo by SSG William Armstrong

“Our Army is serving a Nation at war. The war requires that elements of our national power be applied in a broad, unyielding, and relentless campaign. This campaign will not be short; it will require deep and enduring commitment. Our Army is a proud member of the Joint Force expertly serving our nation and its citizens as we continuously strive toward new goals and improve performance. Our individual and organizational approach to our duties and tasks must reflect the seriousness and sense of urgency characteristic of an Army at war. Our soldiers and our nation deserve nothing less. This is not business as usual.”

General Peter J. Schoomaker, Army Chief of Staff

Army, Bradley Fighting Vehicle’s 25mm machine cannon – 8 June 2005, Tikrit, Iraq. A 3rd Infantry Division soldier assists with security in his M3A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle at an Iraqi police checkpoint. The Bradley’s main armament is the hard-hitting and fast firing 25mm Bushmaster “Chain Gun” with a dual feed mechanism that allows the gunner to select rounds best suited for targets at hand. (US Army photo by Matthew Acosta)

Army, M249 SAW on homemade mount – 23 October 2003, Iraq. Specialist Derek Henrie, a mechanic with 584th Maintenance Company, fits his M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) on to one of the locally-produced mounts designed and built in Iraq for one third the cost of standard issue types. This kind of GI ingenuity has helped produce the large numbers of gun mounts urgently required to equip vehicles used by military police and convoy security units. (US Army photo by PFC Joshua Hutcheson)

More than 120,000 Guardsmen and women are answering the call to colors. As painful and terrible as war can be, our nation should never go to war any time, any place, or for any reason, without calling out the Guard. When you call out the Guard you call out America. The Guard brings the American people to the fight and when that happens, no one can defeat America!” Lieutenant General H. Steven Blum, Chief, National Guard Bureau

Virginia Army National Guard, M4A1 carbine – 2 June 2005, Afghanistan. A Virginia National Guard officer (center) with Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division (Light), questions a villager through an interpreter during a patrol in the Ajristan District of Ghanzi Province during a patrol in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The unnamed officer’s M4A1 carbine is well equipped with M68 CCO, infrared aiming light and vertical foregrip. (US Army photo by SSG Joseph P. Collins, Jr.)

Oregon Army National Guard, M4A1 carbine – 11 November 2004, Fallujah, Iraq. Staff Sergeant Chris Johnson, a deployed member of the Oregon National Guard, looks through the ACOG scope atop his M4A1 carbine in search of the insurgents who launched a rocket attack. The tough and bright four power day optic also features a tritium illuminated reticle for low light shooting. Note how his carbine is also fitted with both infrared and visible light illuminators. (US Army photo by SSG Rebekah-mae Bruns)

Today’s Marine forces continue to demonstrate the readiness, agility, and lethality the Nation demands from its armed forces in uncertain times. As we battle insurgents, strike at fanatical terrorists, and deter aggression around the globe, we continue to validate the necessity of ‘expeditionary’ capabilities in meeting the Nation’s wide range of security challenges. Our success in these endeavors requires that we draw upon past strengths, while innovatively anticipating and overcoming 21st Century dangers.”
General Michael W. Hagee, Commandant of the Marine Corps

USMC, Soviet heavy machine gun – 14 May 2004, Afghanistan. Marines of Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, the ground combat element of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), inspect a captured Russian-made DShK heavy machine gun at Forward Operating Base Payne, deep in Oruzgan Province. This highly capable WWII era .51 caliber weapon is roughly equivalent to the US M2HB and is particularly effective against helicopters and convoys. (USMC photo by GySGT Keith Milks)

USMC, M79 grenade launcher – 7 May 2004, Iraq. Corporal Dennis Aikara of Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division reaches for a high-explosive 40mm grenade during test firing of M-79 grenade launchers on the range at Camp Blue Diamond. Marines were evaluating the Vietnam-era weapon to see if it would be effective against Improvised Explosive Devices. The shotgun-like “Blooper” with fixed wooden stock gives better control and accuracy than the M203 that replaced it. (USMC photo by GySGT Mark Oliva)

This article first appeared in Small Arms Review V9N1 (October 2005)

General Peter J. Schoomaker – Small Arms Review

PARTNERS IN THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR