Soldier Continues Service to Battalion
(July 15, 2011) |
|
|
|
Army Sgt. Brian McCown teaches Army Pfc. Frankie Busby the
responsibilities of an electronic warfare noncommissioned officer at
Camp Taji, Iraq, June 9, 2011. |
|
BAGHDAD, July 11, 2011 – The 1st Infantry Division's 1st “Vanguard”
Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade is
a family away from home for many soldiers serving in U.S. Division
Center here.
One such soldier is Army Sgt. Brian McCown,
assigned to the battalion's Headquarters and Headquarters Company. A
Eureka, Mo., native, McCown is an M1 Abrams main battle tank crewman
who also serves as the battalion ammunition noncommissioned officer,
electronic warfare noncommissioned officer and air movement
coordinator.
McCown has been with the unit during multiple
deployments, in various job positions. As the longest-serving
Vanguard soldier, he said, he hopes always to be in a |
|
position that supports the battalion. |
|
“It's not only an honor and a privilege to be a part of this
organization,” McCown said. “It is also an important part of
my life.”
From deployments as a tank crewman
patrolling the streets of Iraq and as a section leader in
the battalion's personal security detachment to
multi-tasking three demanding jobs, McCown has proven to be
a reliable soldier. He credits his loyalty to the unit to
his leaders.
“I never left the unit because the
leadership has always been great,” he said.
McCown's
first deployment was in 2004 with the 1st Armored Division's
1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, in
support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. As an Abrams tank
crewman, he patrolled the streets of Sadr City here for the
majority of the tour.
In March 2008, that unit was
re-designated as 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, and
McCown has served two deployments with the unit since then
-- the first in 2008 as a section leader in the battalion
personal security detachment in the lead truck of the
battalion commander's escort team.
McCown now is
serving in his third deployment, scheduling helicopter
flights, performing ammunition inventories and supervising
upkeep of electronic warfare equipment on the vehicles.
Though his schedule is demanding, he also takes time to
mentor the soldiers in his section.
“He has shown me
discipline and what to do in an assortment of situations,”
said Army Pfc. Frankie Busby, a M1 Abrams crewman and a
Linton, Ind., native. “He takes time out of his already busy
day to show me how to do a task instead of just telling me.”
Helping his fellow Americans back home also is important
to McCown. During his rest and recuperation leave to
Missouri in late May and early June, he assisted in the
relief efforts for the people who lost almost everything in
the Joplin tornado disaster. A friend of McCown's, who owns
a camping supply store, donated air conditioning-adaptable
tents. McCown helped to deliver the tents to people in the
area.
“He is probably one of the most selfless NCOs I
have ever met,” said Army Staff Sgt. Sean Rodda, an
operations sergeant with the battalion and a Tampa, Fla.,
native. “No matter how many additional duties are piled on
him, he makes that duty his own and follows it to the
absolute completion.”
McCown said he aspires to be a
warrant officer, and that he hopes whatever work is ahead of
him supports the Vanguard Battalion in some way.
“Regardless of my future endeavors, I will always be a
Vanguard,” he said. | |
Article and photo
by Army Spc. William A. Joeckel
U.S. Division Center
American Forces Press Service
Copyright 2011
Comment on this article |
|
