Report From the Field: The ‘Eye in the Sky’ Keeps Soldiers Out of Harm’s Way

FORWARD OPERATING BASE WARRIOR, Kirkuk, Iraq — 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs RSS. Story by Pfc. Justin Naylor
Date: 04.25.2009
Posted: 04.25.2009 11:59
From: Digital Video & Imagery Distribution System

A group of insurgents wait in the dark to ambush a convoy. They sit patiently, eager, having planned the attack and thinking they know what to expect. A few minutes pass and then—suddenly—they are inexplicably blinded by spotlights as Soldiers seemingly from nowhere take advantage of their disorientation and safely disarm them.

There was one thing that the attackers did not consider; the “eye in sky” that can see in the dark.

“Our mission [here] is to provide route reconnaissance, counter-improvised explosive device watch, counter-indirect fire support and look for suspicious activity,” said Spc. Mark Mushen, a San Antonio, Texas, native and a Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Operator for Company A, 2nd Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.

The UAV is piloted without an onboard crew and can fly autonomously or be remotely operated.

“We have a good field of view because we fly at a pretty high altitude,” said Sgt. Travis Nunn, a Siloam Springs, Ark., native and a UAV operator for Company A. “We can see things that they can’t always see.”

According to Mushen, the UAV offers Soldiers near real-time imagery of an area and can scout areas days in advance to give Soldiers an idea of what to expect.

This is especially true at night, because the UAVs have infrared cameras that allow us to see really clearly, said Nunn.

UAVs are versatile and can be used to support nearly any operation.

“If there is anything that happens, we get redirected to cover it,” said Nunn.

We see small-arms fire most commonly, but we have also uncovered IED sights and enemy activity, said Nunn.

We are also able to be the first ones on the scene if the Forward Operating Base receives incoming fire, said Nunn.

For the Soldiers who operate the UAVs, there is a direct relationship to the chance of mission success.

“The biggest reward is helping save lives on the ground,” said Nunn.

The UAVs and their crews provide us a heads up without being detected, said 2nd. Lt. Gen Mui, a Killeen, Texas, native and a battle captain for 4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd BCT, 1st Cav. Div.

“They have directly helped our unit in the past,” said Mui.

For the Soldiers who are on the ground, the UAVs give them the capability to see who is coming and going near the objective a few hours before without worrying about detection, said Mui.

“If they need us, we are there,” said Mushen. “We mitigate risk.”

“If we get shot down, no one dies,” said Nunn.

“It’s a good feeling to be able to help troops out,” said Mushen. “You’ve made their job easier. You’re an extra set of eyes.”

Although operating and maintaining a UAV might not always be exciting, it has its moments.

According to Mushen, many people believe flying a UAV is like a movie: lots of action. In reality, there is actually a lot of time spent just flying around, or making repairs to the vehicle on the ground.

We have to go through a lot of checks before we put it in the air, explained Nunn. We have to ensure that everything is working like it should. From the headings to the engine, we have to double check it all.

“We are up [UAVs in the air] over 128 hours a day,” said Nunn.

But, when you finally find something, it makes it all worthwhile, said Mushen.