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Bored in Baghdad
November 13, 2009 - 1:43 PM | by: Malini Wilkes
Charlie Company of the 2-5 Cav is one of the few U.S. units still operating inside Baghdad. After June 30th, most American troops left Iraqi cities and withdrew to larger bases on the perimeters.
But a limited number remain behind at smaller bases in urban areas to train and support Iraqis. Our Fox crew embedded this week with the 2-5 Cav at JSS Shield, a joint U.S-Iraqi base in Eastern Baghdad, not far from Sadr City.
The soldiers don't see much action anymore. No firefights, no mortars, no ambushes.
The Iraqi Army is in charge of basic security now. Charlie Company goes on joint patrols with the Iraqis and sometimes serves as a security detail for civil affairs teams working on economic reconstruction.
Since June 30th, the soldiers are down from about two missions a day to just one. And they're rarely in danger.
These days, the real enemy is boredom.
"A lotta boredom," says Pfc. Winston Coffey. "Trying to fill time, trying to keep your mind busy so you're not thinking about home."
How do they battle that boredom? Options are limited.
Almost every soldier had the same list of downtime activities: working out at the gym, playing video games in the rec room, and watching movies on DVD. JSS Shield is one of the few lucky bases that has wireless internet in every room, so the soldiers stay connected to family and friends with email, Skype and Facebook.
Six months ago, Charlie Company was always either patrolling, eating or sleeping.
It's a slower pace now, but a different kind of stress.
Capt. Christopher Clyde, the company commander, says, "With the added downtime it's even that much more important for leaders to get involved, talk with their guys."
The unit has about three months left in Iraq, but Capt. Clyde says leaders are already assessing every single soldier for possible stress as they adjust to life back home. They're looking at the risks of drinking, divorce, financial trouble and anger management.
They want to make sure every soldier stays mentally strong and fit for combat.
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