The commander of Charlie Battery, 3rd Battalion, 6th Field Artillery Regiment, Major Thomas Robinson deployed with his unit to Afghanistan as part of 10th Mountain Division, arriving in the summer of 2003 and then personally redeploying (after relinquishing command) in February 2004. Fortunate enough to be able to deploy and serve as artillerymen, the battery brought four of its six M-119 155 millimeter howitzers and, from Orgun-E and Shkin firebases, shot in support of maneuver patrols and did counter-battery fires in response to rocket attacks. Responsible for the training, welfare and morale of his soldiers, Robinson also discusses how he came to have "the best family readiness group in the battalion" and offers advice to other commanders on how to build and sustain their own first-rate FRGs. Upon his return and following a Bosnia stint, Robinson spent roughly a year assigned to 2nd Brigade, 78th Division (Training Support) at Fort Drum, New York. In his capacity as a battle captain on the mobilization assistance team, he helped mobilize the 42nd Infantry Division, New York National Guard, working primarily with their headquarters and division artillery. Looking back on this experience, Robinson speaks at length about the impact Global War on Terrorism deployments are having on National Guard units. “I think overall,” he said, “it will make the National Guard a better force, because they’ll get more focus, they’ll get more money, and they’ll train harder because they’re realizing now, ‘Hey, we might actually have to go do this for real someday. It’s not just a weekend job anymore.’ So overall, it’ll make the quality of the force better, but right now it’s really hurting their recruiting numbers.”

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