The J4 logistics officer for the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Arabian Peninsula from May 2004 to May 2005, Major Dennis Levesque was responsible for the "life sustainment" of this strategic-level organization throughout the Iraqi theater of operations, the "major muscle movement" being the stand up of the new Iraqi Special Operations Force (ISOF) brigade. Tasked with providing them "cradle to grave" with everything from weapons, uniforms and backpacks to barracks, food and facility security, Levesque, in this interview, discusses the myriad challenges therein and, what's more, the additional responsibility he and his fellow CJSOTF staff officers had to mentor the ISOF brigade staff. He also talks at length about his efforts to ensure that ISOF soldiers were able to seamlessly interoperate with U.S. Special Forces. Having, in many cases, the same equipment had a tremendous impact on "the morale, motivation and confidence of the Iraqis. The Green Berets are one of the greatest fighting forces in the world,” said Levesque, “and they are well respected; so if you take an Iraqi who’s motivated and who wants to be like them, and give him the same stuff and make him look like that, his morale is through the roof. They had great equipment, they had great support, they were taught how to use it by professional guys that use it every day,” he added, “so that generated morale as well as confidence.” When the CJSOTF was tasked with providing a personal security detachment for the top five Iraqi Interim Government officials, Levesque made sure “that there was no reason logistically or force protection wise why that mission would fail and why those guys couldn’t do their job to keep those IIG guys alive.” He also offers advice on how conventional and SF units, assets and capabilities can be better integrated.

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