Colonel Dyfierd Harris commanded 4th Brigade, 1st Armored Division in Operation Iraqi Freedom from July 2003 until July 2004. This brigade - the division's aviation brigade - had operational responsibilities throughout the division's area of responsibility (AOR). Baghdad was the center of this AOR which eventually extended from Al Kut east of the capital, south to Najaf and north to Iskandariyah. Support around Balad also occurred. After reception, staging, onward-movement and integration and fixing in place of commanders, Harris' brigade fought and supported war at the company level. Team building presented an ongoing challenge, especially as soldiers adapted to duties often outside their military occupational specialties and modified table of organization and equipment missions. Mission support often required accelerated military decision-making process application. Other issues included constant changes of mission complicated by intelligence shortfalls. Harris' brigade adaptively responded to ground maneuver support as well as nation-building missions. Baghdad International Airport provided a frequent geographical focal point for operations. One critical lesson learned was that the combined arms team concept has a different meaning in the counterinsurgency fight: transition to "finders and finishers." In-country training and learning of aviation capabilities was ongoing both to facilitate adaptation and to maintain the brigade's combat edge.

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