Major William Black served as a captain with Coalition Task Force 82 as a battle captain and a company commander, as well as a liaison officer to Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan from the period of August 2002 to February 2003 during the Operation Enduring Freedom II. Based at Bagram, his principal responsibility was to support the C3 and assist in the conduct of the daily battle update briefs and battle update assessments to Major General John R. Vines, the commander of CTF-82. Later, he acted as an interim company commander of the CTF-82 Headquarters and Headquarters Company for six weeks while a misconduct investigation was ongoing involving the previous commander. After having fulfilled this duty, he came back to the CTF headquarters and was a liaison officer responsible for deconflicting operations between CJSOTF-A and the conventional forces of CTF-82. In this interview, Black shares his experiences from a captain's perspective on a wide variety of topics, from communications and leadership issues to his thoughts on how coalition partners can be better employed and incorporated into US military operations. Additionally, he offers a firsthand assessment of General Vines' leadership style; reveals that managing battle rhythms was among his most challenging tasks; talks about difficulties in the overall supply system and his concerns about property accountability; the importance of maintaining the highest of professional standards, even if it means you're sometimes unpopular; and shares the recollections of a company-grade officer being exposed to high-level information operations campaigns. About his dealings with coalition partners, Black observes that countries such as Lithuania and Romania were not nearly as sensitive to rules of engagement issues as the US was, and also that we - the US - don't always treat our coalition partners as well as we should. Looking back on his Afghan service, Black remarked that he was personally thankful that he was able to participate. "It was a great challenge of my generation in the United States," he said, "and to be one of the officers in one of those units that was getting ready to go and participate, to strike our blow for freedom and do a little payback for September 11. Also, to build a democracy and build a better life for those Afghan people who had been in 30 years of war. I was very appreciative for that opportunity."

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