| Submit your comments on this article |
| Fox Teams Bring Versatility to 1st Armored |
| 2004-03-03 |
| The 13 soldiers assigned to operate the Army’s M 93A1 NBC Reconnaissance System, commonly known as the Fox, have been busy supporting the 1st Armored Division Artillery, or "DIVARTY," Combat Team in ways that are not always expected. From operating temporary checkpoints, traveling on reconnaissance patrols to providing convoy security, the Fox teams have been operating 24 hours a day supporting missions in DIVARTY’s southern Baghdad sector. "Flexibility means being able to adapt and change at a moment’s notice," said Sgt. Tanya Jackson, a squad leader assigned to operate the large six-wheel light-armored vehicle. "The recon platoon and its Foxes have been more than flexible throughout this deployment. We have done everything from zone patrols to route improvised explosive device clearance." Weighing more than 19 tons, the German-made vehicle demands attention on the crowded highways and in Baghdad’s densely populated neighborhoods. The Fox is a prime platform for supporting numerous DIVARTY Combat Team missions because of its size, armor and agility, which Staff Sgt. Kristine Chewning knows from experience. Because of the vehicle’s distinctive design and armor, her three-soldier crew was able to survive a direct hit from a rocket-propelled grenade. Although the gunner was injured from shrapnel from the initial impact of the round hitting the armor, the Fox crew was able to regain control of the situation -- but the crew and Chewning will never be the same, she said. "It quickly changed my idea about terrorism, security and patrol operations we do and the training for combat operations," she said. Although the vehicle’s minor damage has been repaired and her soldier’s wounds have healed, Chewning said she is, now more than ever, focused on the mission. EFL |
| Posted by:Chuck Simmins |