Deployment is difficult for many reasons. The things that concern us seem different, yet in many ways they are the same. Regardless of how long you've been in the military, how much training you've received throughout your career, or how many...
On 11 September 2001, the day that changed the lives of every American, I was assigned to 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), as the group S-4 Noncommissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC). I will discuss the logistical challenges my unit had to...
Another morning in eastern Afghanistan and we begin yet another patrol, but at least we are heading back to the firebase, our home away from home. Once we finally get started, things are going well; commo is working, weapons are running and our...
This paper describes key events and lessons learned during conducting and planning a Battalion SRP for November 2004. This was not to long after the invasion of Iraq began. Therefore, we performed a lot of catch up to get the unit up to new...
From jungle to desert, both hot climates but one moist and humid the other hot and dry. Soldiers can deal with different environment, insert them and they adapt and overcome the environment as well as situations. Soldiers have been water landed,...
While participating in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), I had the first hand opportunity to see how the policies and public pressure of the United States had a direct effect on the progress of the Afghan National Army (ANA) ability reach a state...
As a soldier in the armed services, I always knew there was a chance that our Unit would be called to duty. We trained very diligently and were always preparing for the day that our country would call us in arms. I was assigned to an engineering...
During Operation Iraqi Freedom many units were mobilized outside of their basic Mission Essential Task List (METL) to conduct various needed functions to fight the War on Terror. The 115th Engineer (EN) Battalion (BN) was such a unit that deployed...
This paper will address the deployment of the 3-13th Field Artillery Battalion during Operation Iraqi Freedom III. The unit had many non-artillery missions including Force Protection and Combat Patrols. The use of crater analysis became a great...
I, Joe M. Aguilar joined the United States Army on the Delayed Entry Program in 27
January 1978. I left for Basic Training on 26 September 1978. I arrived at Ft. Knox in
the wee hours of 27 September 1978. Basic Training was an experience I will...
Leading up to and upon landing at Baghdad International Airport (BIAP), our mission had changed numerous times. This truly created a challenge to maintain focus not only for myself, but also the rest of my platoon. This paper details aspects of my...
This paper examines a Special Forces Company’s daily operations in central Baghdad. The paper is written from the point of view of the Company Operations Sergeant. The Company’s goal was to conduct Targeting Operations with an end state of...
This story happened when I was a corporal in my first squadron on Suqatra Island, Republic of Yemen. I learned how important NCOs not only for deployments but also for the mission itself. It was my obligation to let the process of elections keep...
UPON NOTIFICATION OF DEPLOYMENT TO THE IRAQI THEATER OF OPERATION IN SUPPORT OF THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM, THE 1ST BATTALION, 6TH FIELD ARTILLERY BEGAN ITS DYNAMIC TRANSFORMATION FROM A FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION TO A MANEUVER TASK FORCE. TASK...
I’m truly honored to contribute to the history of the Noncommissioned Officer
Corps by sharing my experiences while serving for this great country, The United
States of America. I’m one of eight children born to John and Dorothy Alexander...
This paper outlines key issues of my experience during Operation Iraqi Freedom 09-11. I will discuss two areas to me that would have helped in streamlining the deployment for an Army National Guard Unit. The areas of discussion and lessons learned...
In 2007, a Brigade Combat Team Deployed to Baghdad, Iraq to take on a mission it had not trained for: Garrison Command. In all the training, reacting to indirect fire was only a Warrior Core Task at the individual Soldier level. In the early days...
Recruiting has been a very rewarding experience. Initially, I viewed joining the military as a challenge and an opportunity. I now view my career path as a reward. Recruiting has afforded me the opportunity to grow from a field artillery soldier to...
This personal experience paper covers some of the issues I encountered during the inception of 3-10th General Support Aviation Battalion through my return home from my deployment to Afghanistan with this unit. I came home in order to attend the...
The Field Artillery has evolved over the past 20 years. The technology used in developing today’s Field Artillery weapon systems requires Soldiers to become more technically proficient. Test and Evaluation (T&E) teams, to ensure the accuracy and...