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Airmen return from convoy duty

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kevin Williams
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  Members of the 20th Logistics Readiness Squadron recently returned from an 8-month deployment to Southwest Asia. 

While there, they drove approximately 20 convoy missions in Iraq for the 424th Medium Truck Detachment under the command of the U.S. Army. The convoys were usually about 30 to 40 trucks long. 

Before going to Southwest Asia, the logisticians had to undergo convoy training at Fort Bullis, Texas, and the Army Combat Lifesaver course at Fort Sill, Okla. 

The training helped us prepare for what we would be doing, said Staff Sgt. Eric Trombley, 20th LRS vehicle operator and dispatcher. The training changes with the conditions in Iraq. As the insurgents change their tactics, the training also changes. It was really helpful. 

Once they arrived to Southwest Asia, they saw more of Iraq than they ever expected to see. 

Our missions took us all over Iraq, said Tech. Sgt. Steven Dawson, 20th LRS dispatch support NCO in charge. East, west, north and south … we went all over the place. 

“Some missions took between 10 and 20 days to complete,” said Senior Airman John Bicknell, 20th LRS vehicle operator and dispatcher. 

For Airman 1st Class Christina Chavez, this was her first deployment since joining the Air Force more than two years ago. 

“I didn’t really know what to expect,” she said. “I just went with it.” 

“We’d load up (at the pick-up point) and take the cargo to its destination,” Sgt. Dawson said. “Then we would get a ‘back haul,’ which is picking up cargo from another base and bringing it back.” 

Between missions, they caught up on laundry, called home and sent emails. 

“Sometimes we would have two or three days off between missions,” Sgt. Dawson said. “Sometimes we didn’t get much of a break. I came back from a mission once and 12 hours later, I was out the gate again.” 

During their convoy missions, they stopped at different bases along their routes every night. “They have what is called convoy support centers,” Sgt. Dawson said. 

“They provide us with a place to sleep and maintenance support if it was needed. We always stopped at a safe haven.” 

He also said one of the great things about convoy duty is getting to see the differences at all the bases throughout the region. 

Convoys typically average about four to six hours a day on the road, but sometimes circumstances arise that require them to stay longer. 

“It varies, depending on what happens on the road,” Airman Chavez said. “Sometimes when you get to your destination, it makes for an even longer day … we once had a 30-hour day because it took them so long to unload (the trucks). Then they loaded us up again.” 

Working in a joint environment with the Army was another interesting aspect for the convoy drivers, but the two services considered each other equal partners. 

The Army uses different lingo, but we all worked very well together, Sgt. Dawson said. We became one team. 

“Everybody knew what they needed to do,” Sgt. Trombley said. “We were under an Army chain of command. The mission planning came from the Army. Everybody knew who was in charge. There was no fighting. The Army has always backed us up with our convoys.” 

Convoy drivers can find themselves in difficult situations at times in Iraq. Small-arms fire and improvised explosive devices make it a dangerous job. 

“The first time I was in a gun truck, I was in the turret and we took small-arms fire on the right hand side,” said Airman Bicknell. “Our rear gun truck returned fire. Later, in that same area, another convoy got hit with an IED.” 

“We got many small-arms fire,” Airman Chavez said. “And every base had their share of mortar attacks.” 

“We took numerous small-arms fire and (rocket propelled grenade) attacks,” Sgt. Dawson said. “That resulted in one foreign national being killed and two trucks destroyed.” 

Lt. Col. Matthew Beckage, 20th LRS commander, expressed his gratitude for the duties his Airmen performed for Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

“We’re extremely proud of our convoy warriors,” Col. Beckage said. “Their teamwork and dedication to the mission are phenomenal. They’ve been rolling convoys through some pretty dangerous territory for the past eight months and there are true heroes in that group. They’re tight, they’re darn good at what they do and they’re true professionals. We’re happy to see them safely back home with friends and family.”