Mission focused

All in the planning: WO2 John Kirkham provides explosives awareness training to US soldiers at Camp Victory, Iraq. Photo by Sgt Troy Rodgers.

By Cpl Simone Liebelt
Volume 11, No. 38, March 8, 2006

TO SAY this soldier has a dangerous job in Iraq is no understatement.

WO2 John Kirkham is embedded in a team of 22 soldiers from the Alabama Army National Guard, whose job it is to deliver explosive hazards awareness training to coalition personnel in Iraq.

The training itself isn’t dangerous; it’s the process of getting to each location that puts them all at extreme risk.

“All I’m doing is teaching, but the fact that we are required to drive from point A to point B through some of the worst places in God’s green applecart is just part of the job,” WO2 Kirkham said

He travels in what’s known as a Ground Assault Convoy, comprised of up to 11 personnel in three to five armoured vehicles.

Each mission needs to be prepared for thoroughly, according to WO2 Kirkham, whose role it is to command one of the vehicles.

“We do at least seven days solid preparation, where we get maps and satellite imagery of the area, find out where the hot spots are, allocate positions and do extensive practice and rehearsals on what we’re going to be doing. We plan for everything – breakdowns, flat tyres, sniper attacks, IED detonations, vehicle damage and injuries … so when we roll out the gate, it’s game on; there’s no turning back.”

Regardless of how many times he has been out on a convoy, he never gets complacent.
He said the team kept its travel distances short to minimise exposure and so the men did not burn out before they even reached their destination.

“When you travel over three hours on convoy wearing body armour and the full suite of personal protective equipment and you’re on 150 per cent alert looking at threats, by the time you get out at the other end, you’re mentally fried; you’ve got nothing left,” he said. “After about 30 minutes, you get a headache from all the concentrating and you end up saturated from sweat and nerves. It’s pretty stressful.”

Despite it being the most dangerous deployment of his career, he rates it as one of the best.

“It’s been one of the highlights of my career, being able to put 25 years of Army training into action, and to be out there helping to save lives by making people aware of explosive hazards,” he said.

Another highlight has been working so closely with Americans and commanding US troops on operations.

“I had my reservations to start off with because I hadn’t dealt with Americans before, but now after working with them, there are guys in the group who I would trust with my eyes shut stepping off a cliff,” he said.

1Lt Steven Witherington, XO of the Explosive Hazard Awareness Training team (EHAT) from the 200th Engineer Battalion, Alabama Army National Guard, said it was “a pleasure and a welcome shock” to work with Australians.

“I’ve worked closely with five Australian embeds over the last 11 months and the only real difference has been their accent … and their jokes,” he said. “They are professional soldiers but are just a little more relaxed than a lot of the Americans would be.

“We’ve learnt a lot from each other and have also become good friends. When you’re putting your life in each others hands, you become pretty close.”

With only a few weeks left until he returns home, WO2 Kirkham has started counting the days until he sees his wife, five children and four grandchildren again.

“Family does run across my head fairly regularly,” he said. “I’ve got a piece of timber hanging at the end of my bunk with photos and stuffed toys from home. It’s the first thing I see in the morning and the last thing I see at night, so it helps keep me focused.

“I know if it wasn’t for the support of my wife and family, I don’t think I’d be doing this job. It takes a very special person to be the partner of a soldier, and my wife, Debbie, is one hell of a lady.”