Major Dorothy DeLeon served as the assistant intelligence officer for 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division and then assistant operations officer with the 311th MI Battalion in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from February 2003 until February 2004. Upon returning from her deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, DeLeon went to the Joint Readiness Training Center and then began the preparation for deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. DeLeon discusses the lessons learned from her deployment to Afghanistan that allowed her to focus and apply towards the predeployment training and preparations. They brought with them most of their equipment and received additional training on new equipment. Once in Kuwait they made the movement into Iraq from Attack Position Terry behind the 3rd Infantry Division up to Baghdad and then to Mosul. DeLeon discusses the unique challenges faced while getting ready to make the movement into Iraq and during the convoy north. DeLeon remained as the assistant brigade intelligence officer until April when she transitioned to the position of assistant operations officer for the 311th MI Battalion. DeLeon discusses her tasks and responsibilities in both positions and her transition in the middle of this deployment. DeLeon discusses the challenges that arose once the battalion took over the Border Police mission. DeLeon and her husband were both deployed and were able to see each other depending on the location they were both assigned. She discusses what she enjoyed most about this deployment to Iraq. DeLeon also offers her lessons learned and recommendations based on this deployment.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited