YES, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TROOPS

We are forced to use mortar men to do routine patrols in Baghdad.

Cavalry mortarmen help deter attacks
By Sgt. Robert Yde, 2nd BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public
Affairs
Apr 20, 2007 - 8:35:20 AM


Blackanthem Military News, FORWARD OPERATING BASE
ECHO, Iraq – For many months, coalition Soldiers based
here had been the recipients of nearly nightly mortar
attacks originating from the nearby town of Diwaniyah.

For most of the Soldiers on the mortar teams, this
mission is the first chance they have had to fire
mortars since arriving in Iraq nearly 10 months ago.

“We don’t get to do this mission in Baghdad, and it’s
a nice change of pace to do what we’re actually
trained to do,” Gervais said. “When we’re in Baghdad,
we just do presence patrols, raids, clearance ops, all
that other stuff just like 11Bs (infantrymen) would.”