41706 - Outside the Wire with the CA Team

"This week I’m going to be tagging along with the 1/34th’s Civil Affairs (CA) team. These are the guys responsible for acting as liaisons between the troops and the local Iraqis. This includes everything from performing assessments of the local’s needs to building new facilities to resolving disputes.

The CA boys were still working with the 1/48th, going through a handoff process that all members of the 1/34th will experience. This transfer of authority and operational knowledge is known as “Right Seat, Left Seat Rides.” For the first few weeks, the 1/34th sits in the “right seat,” the passenger’s side, and observes and learns from the troops they are relieving. They carefully watch them conducting the very same missions that will soon be their responsibility. After a time, they switch places and take up the “left seat,” leading the missions while their predecessors observe and offer advice."
GX Down Range

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