In this second of three interviews, Major Steven Beaumont talks about serving as the assistant operations officer for the 3rd Signal Brigade at Camp Victory, Iraq, from August through December 2004 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He discusses deploying to a unit which is already located in theater, the challenge of fitting into an established battle rhythm, and servicing the communications needs of coalition partners and the Coalition Provisional Authority. He also talks about the excellent handoff they had with their replacing unit, how they let the battalions design and execute plans which best suited their own needs, how it probably would have been better if he had not deployed with so little time left for the unit, and how he and his wife, a fellow servicemember, would consider leaving active duty if another deployment was required. He closes the interview by stating that deployment disconnected him from his family and made him question his role as a father.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited