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Any mission outside the confines of a forward operating base or logistics support area (LSA) has its hazards. Humanitarian and civil affairs missions are no exception. This was experienced when "Pioneer" Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 130th Engineer Brigade, had a mission to conduct an inspection of a small school near LSA Anaconda, Iraq, to determine the feasibility of making improvements.
The noncommissioned officer in charge (NCOIC) of the brigade commander's combat security team coordinated the mission. He wanted to make sure they planned for every contingency. He used aerial photography and current intelligence information to prepare his plan. Considerations included site security, rally points, partisan linkup, and battle drills for enemy contact such as improvised explosive...