Major Jackie Jones, a signal officer, served in an intelligence billet on the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force (CJSOTF) staff at Al Udeid Airbase, Qatar, beginning in early 2002. As the J2, then deputy J2, Jones helped build the intelligence staff from the ground up that supported special operations throughout the region. While they were up and running immediately, overall, it took about five months to fully man and equip the intelligence shop. During this time, he traveled to about nine or 10 different countries to gather data about what types of intelligence information the special operations units in the region wanted his headquarters to provide. His position also allowed him to observe differences in various service cultures, especially between how the Army and Navy intelligence sections operated. Interestingly, he found that the officers did most of the analysis work in the Navy, while enlisted and warrant officers did most of the analysis in the Army. He then deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom in January 2004 as the Headquarters and Headquarters Company commander of the 29th Signal Battalion from Fort Lewis, Washington - the subject of his second interview. His battalion primarily provided signal support to LSA Anaconda and remained at that base throughout the tour. Jones' company also had a couple of small communications nodes in other areas like Mosul. He recounts dealing with the basic problems of life on a fixed base like Anaconda, from finding living space and air conditioners to pulling security and dealing with contractors.

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