Multi-National Division – North Release

COB SPEICHER — A team of U.S. Soldiers made history when the unmanned aerial vehicle they were operating became the first Armed Warrior Alpha Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) to fire missiles in combat, Feb. 23.

Staff Sgt. Jerry Rhoades, Cpl. Phillip Cheng and Spc. James Pegg were operating the UAS, providing surveillance for U.S. and Iraqi ground troops in the Diyala province when insurgents engaged the Coalition forces.

“We neutralized both targets – [the ground forces] were satisfied,” Rhoades said.

Although systems operators are trained to deploy the weapons platform, this was the first time the Warrior Alpha System engaged a target in combat.”

“We know we have the capability, but we’ve never had the opportunity to use it before,” Cheng explained.

Task Force ODIN was activated in Iraq in 2007 as one of many initiatives to help defeat the threat of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and give Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition (RSTA) support to lower echelon field commanders.

Rhoades said using UAS weapon systems could help save time and lives.

“Say we see someone emplacing IEDs,” he explained. “If we can see it, our customer can see it, and they can call in a team to diffuse it - but that puts ground troops in harm’s way. If we have Hellfires [missles] on board, we can get authorization, take out the whole emplacement, and no ground troops get injured.”

Pegg said he hopes Task Force ODIN operators will be called upon to use Warrior Alpha weapons more frequently now that the system has proven effective in combat.

“I hope we do, and believe we probably will,” he said.

Rhoades agreed, saying, “We were happy to be able to be a part of it, and show the ground forces what we are capable of.”