Night Mission

It had been raining and dreary in Northern Iraq for many days. The sun was just sinking below the horizon, turning the clouds as they cleared into brilliant orange and red. It would be a clear night, the first in many nights. The Soldiers in Bronco Troop of the 1-14 Cav were just completing preparations for a night mission. Border patrol. American Soldiers own the night. Stryker Soldiers, Ghost Soldiers - they are one in the same - Strykers are an example of Army Stealth Technology. Superior technology gives them advantages but mission success still depends on the will, intelligence and stamina of the Soldier.

Thermal imaging and Night Vision instruments were working fantastic this night. The Stryker Soldiers chances of success were in their favor tonight. With speed and in silence the Strykers headed out on the night's mission. It was a long trip all the way out to the southern most border fort in the 1-14's AO (Area of Operation). It wasn't the first time that day that they had been there.

Earlier in the day, the scouts had done what scouts are trained to do. They scouted during daylight. Bronco Troop found and marked several excellent spots to hide and watch the border - several great vantage points that gave them excellent views of the surrounding terrain. During the scouting mission they discovered a break in the earthen berm that forms the only barrier between Iraq and Syria. The hole in the berm was large enough to accommodate trucks carrying contraband and weapons. The Scouts also found several spider holes that the Iraqi insurgents or smugglers had been using to hide during the day or to hide weapons and contraband.

Sometimes a mission such as this turns into a long boring uneventful night, but sometimes it doesn't take long at all for things to happen. Fifteen minutes after the Strykers had set themselves up in their vantage points they encountered the first action of the night. Five trucks crossed the border through the hole in the berm. When the last truck had cleared the border the 1-14 Cav committed themselves to the engagement.

When the Iraqi drivers saw the American Soldiers they tried to run but didn't make it far. Only a handful of the smugglers were caught and several ran off into the night. The Strykers moved back into position and waited, knowing that the smugglers would want to come back for their gear and trucks - or at least try to get back home.

Bronco Troop waited in the darkness, scanning the area with thermal and night vision. One more smuggler was apprehended trying to move across the border with a tractor and boxes of machine parts. They had to wait a couple more hours before the next incident.
That's when just over a dozen men appeared on the top of the berm and walked into Iraq from Syria. Each man was carrying a weapon - RPG's and RPK's (rocket propelled grenade launchers and machine guns) The night could quickly turn into a hornet's nest because of this new development. One well placed RPG round could completely destroy a Stryker vehicle and turn the night into a personal disaster for many. Machine gun fire, even though not well aimed in the darkness, could find a target.

But the night is a Stryker Soldier's ally. The Iraqi insurgents couldn't see the Stryker Soldiers concealed in their positions but they themselves were being tracked. Then, quick action, decisive action by the Strykers. Several shots are fired. The insurgents can't see well enough to engage the Strykers and won't risk it. They drop their weapons and attempt to escape. Bronco troop quickly catches each and every one of them. No problem. Mission accomplished.

It had been a long day and even a longer night.