An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Combat truckers: A writer's journal -- Day 6: A Team Born in Six Nights

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. David Salanitri
  • U.S. Air Forces Central Command Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  This is the sixth 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 6: A Team Born in Six Nights

Finally, the last day. Talks of clean laundry and watching Sunday night football fill the air.

An hour delay is made as the weather is questionable and should pass soon. Though on day one, each service played football on their own, today an Airmen is passing the ball to a Soldier as the football field of gravel is lit up by the trucks. Another Airman plays the role of disc jockey, and blasts music out of his loud speaker. The DJ plays a request from a Soldier and begins to dance to LMFAO's top hit "Party Rock Anthem," doing the song's signature dance called the shuffle in his full body armor. Everyone is smiling and cheering him on.

Then the call is made to mount up. Smiles turn to game faces. Briefs are made, De Jay says the prayer, the gun trucks take part in their energy drink chug joined by Clarkson and Bartlett, and Sielski makes his speech.

After an eight hour trip, the convoy makes it back to an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia where they first met only six days ago. A final sigh of relief can be made as this road trip is over. The convoy is outside of the combat zone.

Perez gathers all the troops, and gives an after action report. Feedback is given by both sides.

"You guys have been the best we've worked with," said Sielski for the first time to the entire group. "If we can be with you guys every mission, then let's figure it out."

As the AAR breaks up, email addresses are passed between Airmen and Soldiers.
"Look me up on Facebook," said an Airman to a Soldier.

About 1,100 miles were covered in six nights. More than 250,000 lbs of cargo was pulled out on this mission.

In fact, if a C-130 Hercules had to move the amount of cargo the truckers have since November 2005, it would have taken more than 6,600 sorties to get it done.

With about half of this convoy being 21-years-old or younger, some of these young warriors may not realize that they are part of history. After eight years of war, more than 3,000 lives lost, this group of Airmen, Soldiers and many like them are turning off the lights in Iraq.

Day 1: Hi, Nice to Meet You
Day 2: Yeah, I'm on Fire
Day 3: An Added Threat
Day 4: Not a Typical Alarm Clock
Day 5: Bonds are Formed
Day 6: A Team Born in Six Nights