In this second of two interviews, Major Tom Miner, US Air Force, discusses his deployment to Baghdad, Iraq, as commander of the 824th Security Forces Squadron from June through December 2006 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He talks about how his unit mission changed from conducting police training in Tikrit to general security in Baghdad, the differences in approach, structure and capability between Army units and Air Force units, and the difficulties and successes he experienced with interpreters. Miner also discusses the real difficulties presented by the influence the Jaish al-Mahdi has within the Iraqi police, the promise shown by young Iraqi investigators, and the confusing Army command structure he had to operate in. Miner closes by saying that the Air Force needs a clearer recognition that it is a profession of arms and that it is slowly moving in that direction.

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