THE PREVIOUS DEPLOYMENT

The 3rd Battalion of the 6th Marine Regiment was at the tip of the spear in some key operations in Western Al Anbar and were part of Operation Steel Curtain.

The commanders credit the previous battalion for conducting census work in the area which was then confirmed and reconfirmed throughout 3/6 tour in Western Al Anbar.

The areas out west, which used to be the wild west, are not considered some of the most tame areas of Iraq.

It was during this tour that 3/6 learned the value of census data and data bases in general that build a phone book and DMV--the basic tools of police detectives.

UPSTREAM SUCCESS 

In this tour, 3/6 again fell in on some solid census data from the previous battalion and went to work expanding and confirming it.

Every patrol is to verify, reverify or add to the knowledge base.  To collect, check or confirm data or investigate anomalies.

With this data, 3/6's series of small platoon and squad sized outposts were able to get a firm grip on the AO.

The Marines were not just able to sense when something was out of place, but able to reference it.  When someone dropped a name, they could immediately call and check out the data base.

When higher HQ listed HVTs, the census data allowed 3/6 to zero in on people.

This ability, along with tireless work on the political/civil side with Sheiks and community leaders brought about the situation I previously reported in Tribal Mojo.

DOWNSTREAM STEPS 

As the Marines tramped through the mud house to house for nearly 24 hours, with little sleep the previous night, they stayed true to the mission given them by the Company Commander--treat everyone with respect and dignity.

Each house was approached with an aggressive posture, but no doors were kicked.  No flash bangs set off.  No locks blasted.

The doors were knocked, the terp asked if the Marines could come in. 

The Jundi fireteam attached to each Marine squad conducted much of the searching of the house.

The squad leader conducted the interview through an interpreter.

The Iraqi Army team assigned to the 81mm Mortars team consisted of an Aareef (Sgt.) two Jundi carrying AK-47s and one Jundi carrying an RPG.

In the pre-op brief, the Company Commander Dave Hart emphasized that this operation was not intended to be kinetic, but could go that way.

Hart also emphasized that everyone was to be treated with respect.  Interviewed with respect and dignity, offered medical care with respect and dignity and, if the situation warranted, flex cuffed with respect and dignity and shot with respect and dignity.

As the interpreter spoke Hart's words in Arabic the RPG gunner smiled real big and patted his launcher.

Each house took 15 to 20 minutes then it was back out tromping through the mud.

11:25 SECONDS...ANYONE JUST WANT TO FIGHT ME

The debrief of the operation by Captain Dave Hart emphasized the necessity of the mission, but the Marines have already bought into the value of census data.

Harts counterpart in the Iraqi Army spoke to the Marines and said he was pleased and wanted to conduct more joint operations with Weapons Company.

Weapons Company 3/6 will undoubtedly follow the same basic principles used out west and in Ramadi and upstream of Habbaniyah---census, confirm data, sort platoon and squad AOs, buy some houses, build small Combat Outposts and Patrol Bases and keep working the census data and political/civil side with the Sheiks and community leaders.

Each AO is different, but the principles of counter insurgency are the same.

The debrief concluded, Hart announced the time it took him--eleven minutes, twenty-five seconds--and then did something that I have never seen a company commander say, "So, any bitches, any complaints or does anyone just want to fight me?"

Everyone was too tired to ground fight the CO, but Weapons Company is fighting the smart fight against AQIZ.

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