In his duty position as S1 of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, Major Karl Strellner ran the brigade rear command post co-located in the Brigade Support Area. Always within 30 kilometers (but typically within five kilometers) of the forward trace of troops, Strellner tracked the battle during his January to August 2003 deployment, ran three simultaneous nets and supported the Brigade Combat Team in its maneuvers with critical assets and supplies. Additionally, he was involved in mortuary affairs, the tracking and medical processing of battlefield casualties, forecasting replacement troops, conducting risk assessments, monitoring unit morale, safeguarding and transporting personal effects, and coordinating the assignment of embedded reporters. Strellner offers detailed insights into both pre-deployment and post-deployment processing procedures as well as suggestions for improvement. His dealings with the Red Cross, the essential role of the rear detachment commander, his experiences transitioning from Phase III (major combat operations) to Phase IV (stability and support operations), and the importance of expanded cultural awareness training, particularly at the officer level, are also discussed at length.

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