Soldiers sign up to battle terrorism

Sgt. Matthew Rollston, 34, said he signed on as infantryman so he could make a difference in the fight against terrorism. The team leader for 1st platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment said he joined the Army three years ago for the same reason most of his fellow soldiers did: The 9/11 terrorist attacks.

"Everyone in my unit specifically joined to fight, and we are getting a chance to do that," said Rollston, a native of Richmond, Va. "That's what the infantry does. I like the fact that they're using us for what we've trained for."

Rollston said his missions are three-fold. On any given day he can be knocking on doors on a "meet and greet" with local Iraqis or knocking down doors looking for armed insurgents with a "cordon and search." He and his team also conduct security patrols for the Explosive Ordnance Disposal squad as they look for and destroy roadside bombs.

Rollston said his unit recently moved from Hawija, Iraq, at Forward Operating Base McHenry and are now at FOB Warrior in Kirkuk.
Rollston said he enjoys being a mentor to his soldiers as a team leader. An infantry team consists of a Squad Automatic Weapon gunner, rifleman and a rifleman with an M203 grenade launcher attached to his weapon.

While on patrols, Rollston said the local people are not angry with the soldiers and they try to be compliant. "They're really more friendly than anything", he said.

But often times the job can be dangerous because he and his team never know what's around the corner, and if the people they meet are friend or foe.

"We only use the amount of force that is necessary and knowing the rules of engagement," Rollston said about deciding when to shoot. "It is difficult because you never know. They (the enemy) don't wear uniforms. We usually have to wait for them to attack. But by following the Rules of Engagement and Escalation of Force (not using more firepower than needed), you can't go wrong."

Rollston said his job as team leader is easy because everyone in his unit is motivated.

"We all try to do the best that we can all the time. Everyone is ready to go when it's time to go," he said.

When he's not hitting the streets in Iraq, Rollston said most of the time you can find him and his buddies working out at the base gym.

The main message Rollston has for the citizens back home is to keep supporting the soldiers.

"Whether or not you believe the war was a mistake, we're fighting it and we have to win," Rollston said. "I think it's clear that the insurgents are coming here from other countries. They've made this their battleground. It's better that we fight here instead of the U.S. It's a slippery slope if we don't win. We have to win here and we need America's support for that. You can't support the soldier and not the mission. It's counter productive."