Kansas Guard serves in the Sinai

By Sgt. Christopher C. Barlow
Task Force Sinai

(12/15/09) -- Soldiers from Charlie Battery 2nd Battalion, 130th Field Artillery of the Kansas National Guard are settling into their Multi-National Force and Observers mission here.

The Kansas soldiers man checkpoints, towers, and observation points throughout the southeast part of the Sinai. The MFO is an independent international peacekeeping organization and has been in existence since 1979, and the U.S. involvement dates back to 1982.

"The mission of the MFO is to supervise the implementation of the security provisions of the Egyptian-Israeli Treaty of Peace and employ best efforts to prevent any violation of its terms", said Sgt. 1st Class Steve Ahlstedt, operations sergeant. "We observe, report, and verify any treaty violations if they happen."

The soldiers have a very unique mission; one that most were not even aware existed before being notified last year. When off duty, the opportunity for professional and personal development is more prevalent because of the mission's peacekeeping nature.

There is an education office, where soldiers can enroll in online college courses through two different universities. The soldiers enjoy many of the comforts of home and stay in touch with friends and family via phone, e-mail and letters. Some soldiers spend their off duty time playing organized sports, such as softball and basketball.

Several of the unit members are Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans and welcome the change of pace.

"The MFO mission is more relaxed compared to when I was in Iraq. Here in the Sinai, we don't have to worry about mortars and rockets impacting inside our camp. When we were in Iraq, we constantly had to worry about what to do when we heard incoming rounds or impacts. It is nice to not worry about that here," said Sgt. Kenneth Mateer.

In addition to their other duties, the unit members also perform monthly Combat Water Survival Training. This training is performed due to the fact that one of the observation posts is on Tiran Island just off the coast and is only accessible by helicopter over the Red Sea. This training is performed in full gear to include uniform, boots and in some cases, backpack and weapon.

"It's all about gaining confidence," says Staff Sgt. Charles "Chip" Cunningham, a primary water survival instructor. "The goal is not only to help our strong swimmers advance in their skills, but to help our weak swimmers gain the confidence they need to remain calm under duress."

The weather isn't anything like Kansas this time of year in the Sinai - in the winter months, the Sinai averages temperatures in the 70s. That is a far cry from the cold and windy days back in Kansas. Though, the summer months here in the Sinai compare to the summer months back in Kansas - the temperatures are in the upper 90s and 100s and are humid, thus making some soldiers feel more at home.

Charlie Battery, 2nd Battalion, 130th Field Artillery is scheduled to return to Kansas by late summer of 2010.