by Staff Sgt. David Salanitri
U.S. Air Forces Central Command Public Affairs
From www.afcent.af.mil 

U.S. Army Soldiers from the Minnesota Army National Guard's B-Troop, 1-94 Cavalry, Pine City MN., use a searchlight to inspect a building for threats in Tikrit, Iraq. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Jeffrey Allen)

SOUTHWEST ASIA - This is the fifth day in a six-day journal following Airmen and Soldier truckers as they transport cargo across Iraq during the transition. -Editor.

Airmen of the 70th and 424th Medium Truck Detachment are on the roads in Iraq every day, hauling cargo and other items out of the country in support of the December 31st deadline for U.S. Forces to be out of Iraq.

Only a handful of months ago, these Airmen where driving an aircrew bus or the big white bus that takes Airmen from the base exchange to the chow hall — today they’re commanding convoys, driving cargo trucks out of Iraq.

The members of this convoy are a diverse bunch. Airmen on this mission are from the 70th MTD and are on their second or third deployment to the same location, carrying out the same mission. Their partners for this mission are Soldiers of B Troop, 1-94 Cav., Pine City, Minn. Army National Guard. The Soldiers will be providing security for the convoy in the form of mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles that are heavily armed.

Day 5: Bonds are Formed

As the convoy hits the road again, many members are looking forward to their first hot meal of the day and eating something other than a Pop Tart — the popular standard issued snack.
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by Staff Sgt. David Salanitri
U.S. Air Forces Central Command Public Affairs
From www.afcent.af.mil  

U.S. Army Sgt. Arthur Wemhoff, Minnesota Army National Guard's B-Troop, 1-94 Cavalry, Pine City MN., refuels his mine-resistant ambush protected caiman vehicle at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Jeffrey Allen)

SOUTHWEST ASIA - This is the fourth day in a six-day journal following Airmen and Soldier truckers as they transport cargo across Iraq during the transition. -Editor.

Airmen of the 70th and 424th Medium Truck Detachment are on the roads in Iraq every day, hauling cargo and other items out of the country in support of the December 31st deadline for U.S. Forces to be out of Iraq.

Only a handful of months ago, these airmen where driving an aircrew bus or the big white bus that takes airmen from the base exchange to the chow hall — today they’re commanding convoys, driving cargo trucks out of Iraq.

The members of this convoy are a diverse bunch. Airmen on this mission are from the 70th MTD and are on their second or third deployment to the same location, carrying out the same mission. Their partners for this mission are soldiers of B Troop, 1-94 Cav., Pine City, Minn. Army National Guard. The soldiers will be providing security for the convoy in the form of mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles that are heavily armed.

Day 4: Not a Typical Alarm Clock

Waking up to a gym full of sleeping soldiers and airmen is almost comical. Woven between workout equipment, a solider sleeps on his blue mat with his .50 caliber machine gun next to him. Only hours after the last group of airmen fall asleep a siren goes off “rocket attack, rocket attack, rocket attack.” A nice wakeup after two hours of sleep. Even when the convoy is off the road, danger is all around them. The alarm sounded multiple times including on the way out of the gate. Heading back to the convoy’s original destination of JB Balad, travel isn’t so smooth. A contractor’s vehicle has two tires go flat.

Any time the convoy halts, breaths are held.
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by Staff Sgt. David Salanitri
U.S. Air Forces Central Command Public Affairs
From www.afcent.af.mil  

The bullet and rock scarred windshield of an M915 tractor serves as a reminder of just some of the threats facing convoy crews traveling in Iraq. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Jeffrey Allen)

SOUTHWEST ASIA - This is the third day in a six-day journal following Airmen and Soldier truckers as they transport cargo across Iraq during the transition. -Editor.

Airmen of the 70th and 424th Medium Truck Detachment are on the roads in Iraq every day, hauling cargo and other items out of the country in support of the December 31st deadline for U.S. Forces to be out of Iraq.

Only a handful of months ago, these Airmen where driving an aircrew bus or the big white bus that takes Airmen from the base exchange to the chow hall — today they’re commanding convoys, driving cargo trucks out of Iraq.

The members of this convoy are a diverse bunch. Airmen on this mission are from the 70th MTD and are on their second or third deployment to the same location, carrying out the same mission. Their partners for this mission are Soldiers of B Troop, 1-94 Cav., Pine City, Minn. Army National Guard. The Soldiers will be providing security for the convoy in the form of mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles that are heavily armed.

Day 3: An Added Threat

As everyone gathers up, something huge stands out to the crew about JBB — the emptiness. Only months ago, JBB had a reputation of having one of the best dining facilities in the country. Now, food is served in little plastic bags called Meals, Ready to Eat.  The place is a ghost town.

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by Staff Sgt. David Salanitri
U.S. Air Forces Central Command Public Affairs
From www.afcent.af.mil 

Members of the 70th medium truck detachment use flashlights to see while they pack their bags as they begin the second day of their seven day convoy through Iraq. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Jeffrey Allen)

SOUTHWEST ASIA - This is the second day in a six-day journal following Airmen and Soldier truckers as they transport cargo across Iraq during the transition. -Editor.

Airmen of the 70th and 424th Medium Truck Detachment are on the roads in Iraq every day, hauling cargo and other items out of the country in support of the December 31st deadline for U.S. Forces to be out of Iraq.

Only a handful of months ago, these Airmen where driving an aircrew bus or the big white bus that takes Airmen from the base exchange to the chow hall — today they’re commanding convoys, driving cargo trucks out of Iraq.

The members of this convoy are a diverse bunch. Airmen on this mission are from the 70th MTD and are on their second or third deployment to the same location, carrying out the same mission. Their partners for this mission are Soldiers of B Troop, 1-94 Cav., Pine City, Minn. Army National Guard. The Soldiers will be providing security for the convoy in the form of mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles that are heavily armed.

Day 2: Yeah, I’m on Fire

Both Air Force and Army crews load up their trucks and gather in the staging area. Army Sgt. 1st Class Brian Sielski, (known as Sgt. Ski to his crew) is in charge of the gun trucks. Before each trip, Sielski and U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. David Perez, convoy commander and native of Santa Fe, N.M. take turns briefing the Soldiers and Airmen on the upcoming leg of the trip.

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