Joint Patrols Clear Key Iraqi Routes
The members of the 40th Engineers Battalion work on a daily basis to help clear roadways and routes in the Mada in Qada. Since last April the soldiers have assisted with the 1st Armored Division in clearing out IED and explosive devices, as well as unexploded ammunition and ordinance that makes its way in from the street.
The typical amount of time that the soldiers spend each day on route clearing missions averages about 10 hours a day. It comes with the job, and their efforts serve to keep the roadways safe.
“We are part of a very important job, we are part of the puzzle and we are proud to be part of the solution,” said 2nd Lieutenant Hall.
Lieutenant Hall is the platoon leader from the 40th Engineer Battalion. They work to clear the roadways of IED, but also to keep the streets and roadways safe and make them a peaceful environment for Iraqi family environments.
Their patrols are also part of an overall operations to keep the streets and roadways free from terrorist bombs.
The route clearance soldiers use a number of tools and vehicles. These include a detector vehicle, a Husky and a RG31 Mine Protected Armored Personnel Carrier. It also includes a mine detector vehicle used for mine clearance. Overall it is a very effective operation.