Patrolling Fallujah on a 'typical day'

Bill Roggio (PMI)Published: Thursday December 7, 2006

Raw's Iraq correspondent rides along on a patrol of one of the two main arteries through the Fallujah region

The city of Fallujah and its surrounding environs have both a symbolic and strategic importance for the security of Iraq.

The region south of Fallujah, including the towns of Amaryiah and Ferris, is patrolled by the Marines of the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion. The regiment also has three additional companies. I embedded with the "Gators," the Marines of Bravo Company, 2nd Assault Amphibious Battalion, commanded by Captain Eric Dominijanni.

The traditional mission of an Assault Amphibious Battalion is to land Marines on the beach, using their huge Amphibious Assault Vehicles (or AAVs), which hold up to 20 Marines and a crew of three. But here in Iraq, the Gators have been assigned to patrol Route Mobile, one of the two largest roads running east-west through Anbar province, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

LinkHere