During his February 2004 to January 2005 deployment to Mosul in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, Lieutenant Colonel Paul Hastings commanded the 139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, a split-state Illinois and Wisconsin National Guard unit headquartered in Springfield, Illinois. In this interview, he discusses his unit's mobilization at Fort McCoy and its nearly yearlong tour in Multinational Brigade-North's area of responsibility, which included the provinces of Nineveh, Dahuk and Irbil. Once established, Hastings' 20-person MPAD was primarily responsible for providing public affairs support to the Task Force Olympia commander, Brigadier General Carter Ham, who "relied on us for the non-lethal aspects of running a stability and support operation." Using a wide variety of high-tech equipment, the 139th focused its multimedia efforts on both Iraqi and American audiences - as well as on telling the stories of U.S. soldiers deployed in theater - earning the Meritorious Unit Commendation for its service. Hastings also recounts the 139th's work mentoring Iraq journalists, the times his unit went into "crisis communications mode," and also their experiences dealing with the "mainstream media" and the seemingly ubiquitous stringers news outlets regularly employed and relied upon in Iraq. In addition, Hastings discusses a number of Guard and Reserve-specific topics and offers a great deal of sage advice, not only for public affairs officers and NCOs but for Army leaders in general. "You need to acknowledge all the leadership values, the warrior ethos and the soldier creed, and you need to epitomize that," he insists. "You need to be that officer, that leader, that guy in charge of that fire team. That needs to be inculcated within yourself and your very being. And if you struggle with that, you'll never be a leader."

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