B Detchment Executes Cash Transfer

Ever since their arrival in theater, Bravo Detachment, 106th Finance Battalion has acquired the reputation of always going above and beyond in order to accomplish all Finance missions required by the 3rd Brigade Combat Team.

Outstanding customer service is constantly taken beyond the military service member and to the Local National population. Providing the Pay Agents with the tools and funding they need and paying contractors for services provided to the Army allows the Brigade to continue the overall mission and to continually improve the surrounding Local National communities.

          On September 2, Bravo Detachment was called to assist in a very different type of mission. The 3rd BCT Tactical Operations Center (TOC) received a phone call from a representative of the U.S. Treasury stating that 91 Billion Dinars in cash, the equivalent of $62 Million USD, were being flown into Forward Operating Base Warhorse from Baghdad in order to be transported and distributed to the local Banks in Ba’qubah.

Because of the lack of appropriate security or escorts, the major banks in Ba’qubah were unable to receive the money necessary to operate properly. Distrusting local banks has proven to be detrimental to the overall economic development of the surrounding communities. Ensuring the safe delivery of the money to the banks would guarantee the continuous operation of the banks thus allowing the local Iraqi population to obtain the necessary currency to continue their day-to-day affairs.

              Because of vast experience handling large amounts of cash, Bravo Detachment was called to head the downloading and proper handling of fifty 120 lb boxes of Iraqi currency. Although shorthanded in personnel, 1st Lt. Partridge, Sgt. Arguello, Sgt. Ohwovoriole and Spc. Jennings managed to participate in the operation.

1st Lt. Partridge ensured the logistical and administrative portion of the mission was taken care of while Sgt. Arguello, Sgt. Ohwovoriole and Spc. Jennings prepared the vehicles for the pickup. At 2:30 a.m. the next day, two Chinook helicopters landed on the Warhorse airfield carrying the load to be transported to downtown Ba’qubah in the morning.

As the five-ton backed into the rear of one of the aircrafts, the seriousness and importance of the mission became even clearer as the first 25 boxes of the valuable cargo began to be downloaded. SGT Arguello, SGT Ohwovoriole and SPC Jennings began downloading the helicopters as Mr. Calhoun and 1st Lt. Partridge took inventory.

The two aircraft were emptied and the five-ton was filled to the rim. After a final inventory the load and Mr. Calhoun was moved to a secured location where 3rd BCT security teams awaited to take over the care of the enormous cargo and VIP.

   After 3 hours of rest, the load was transported to the front gate where representatives of the two major banks in Ba’qubah would meet Mr. Calhoun for the official transfer. The load arrived at the gate at 6:00 a.m., and by 7:00 a.m., the two representatives of the banks arrived in order to sign for the money they had so anxiously been waiting to receive. As Bravo Detachment downloaded the boxes into the two vehicles the banks provided, Mr. Calhoun completed the necessary paperwork and completed the final transfer.

    The accomplishment of this mission shows that Bravo Detachment is ready to take on any challenge. Although this was not one of our usual day-to-day missions, the task at hand was accomplished with utmost efficiency and professionalism.

The combined efforts of the US Treasury, 3rd BCT and Bravo Detachment, 106th Finance Battalion assured the unremitting operation and restitution of economic growth of the surrounding Local Community.