During its Taji, Iraq-based January 2004 to January 2005 deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Iowa National Guard's 185th Corps Support Battalion was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Michael Schlorholtz. Beginning by discussing the scope and nature of the mobilization process and the predeployment training received at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, Schlorholtz then moves into a discussion of the 12 subordinate companies - representing "a hodgepodge of National Guard, Army Reserve and Active Component units" from all over the US - that he and his headquarters detachment had to task organize and integrate. "We varied anywhere from 1,500 to 2,000 soldiers depending on what time it was in the rotation," he said. Being a combat service support (CSS) headquarters, the 185th's predominant mission was transportation, but it also had field support, maintenance, supply and explosive ordnance disposal responsibilities as well - and as Schlorholtz explains, his principal concern was "providing adequate force protection as soldiers tried to perform their missions." He talks about a variety of convoy security issues, the support his battalion provided offensive operations, the joint aspects of his deployment, as well as the 185th's running of "the largest captured enemy materials warehouse in Iraq," some of which was used to outfit the new Iraqi Army. Asked to reflect upon the unit's major accomplishments, Schlorholtz said that he looks back and sees "a bunch of warriors, which I think has evolved from just being CSS guys. We're soldiers first, combat forces first, and we just happen to do another mission on the ground. I'm really proud of that, and that's not gender specific either," he added. "We were probably one of the largest battalions in country while I was there. We pulled the majority of the logistics support for 13th Corps Support Command and for the divisions that were in our area of responsibility. We maintained about a 92 percent operational readiness rate while we were there. We never turned down a mission and we never failed to accomplish a mission. That's what I'm most proud of, and that's because of soldiers on the ground doing what soldiers do." In this interview, Schlorholtz also discusses such issues as post-traumatic stress disorder, his thoughts on commanding a battalion in combat, and also the need to reestablish "some sort of wartrace program that builds that habitual [training and warfighting] relationship between Active, Reserve and National Guard forces.

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