In this July 2013 interview, MAJ Dennis Sarmiento, US Army, Medical Services discusses his deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan as a division psychiatrist for 1st Calvary, Multi-National Division (MND) - Baghdad in 2009 through 2010 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and a division psychiatrist again for 1st Calvary in 2011 through 2012 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). MAJ Sarmiento talks about his missions of providing behavioral health support in theater. He describes how in Afghanistan he expanded the tele-behavioral health capabilities and talks about traveling around the country. He discusses some challenges he faced and shares the difference between his two deployments. He shares a specific memory of the bond he developed with his NCO and discusses what he sees have been the Army's changing views of behavioral health. MAJ Sarmiento closes his interview by stating, "It's incumbent upon providers to provide good information that respects privacy and confidentiality, the limits of privacy and confidentiality, but help to support the commander make a good decision in taking care of their Soldiers. . . I think we are doing better than we were before. I think commanders now are more educated than they were ever probably want to be. Our job is to, not necessarily simplify their decision-making, but complement it, be an added benefit to it. No commander is alone in taking care of their Soldiers."

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited