Major Joel Gilbert served as an infantry line company commander in the Alaska Army National Guard - the first combat unit in the Alaska Guard to go to a combat zone since World War II - and mobilized with the 29th Brigade from the Hawaii Army National Guard in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005-2006. After some initial training, they completed additional predeployment training at Fort Bliss, Fort Polk and JRTC. Gilbert offers his opinion of the predeployment training and what could have been done different. They fell in on most of their professional equipment in theater. After the movement over, they stayed in Kuwait for three weeks and completed additional training. Once arriving in the Baghdad International Airport area, they fell under the XVIII Airborne Corps, Task Force Dragon, and were stationed at Camp Victory. They completed a handoff with a unit from the Washington Army National Guard and were assigned three main responsibilities: patrols outside of the perimeter, the guard towers, and quick reaction force. In this two-part interview, Gilbert additionally discusses the interaction the unit variously had with the local populace in the Al Amariyah and Al Farat areas. The unit also completed projects which were meant to improve the quality of life for the local populace. While the unit had interpreter support, they came with challenges the unit had to overcome. Gilbert's company received a positive reaction and support from media in Hawaii and Alaska, which greatly improved morale. Gilbert also discusses how the family readiness group was able to assist with family separation. He offers his lessons learned and recommendations based on this deployment.

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