MAJ Lynda Gerhart served as a military intelligence (MI) officer and headquarters commander of 15th MI Battalion, Aerial Exploitation in Balad, Iraq during 2004 and 2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). In this December 2009 interview, MAJ Gerhart discusses her concept of her role in the unit, the mortar that hit the hangar her unit worked in that fortunately did not detonate, and her ability to take care of her soldiers such that her unit had 100% reenlistment. MAJ Gerhart concludes her interview with the observation, " I would just say that the lesson learned here is that whether you're high-intensity or garrison-like, no matter where you are and who you go with and what barriers are placed there, make the connections. You're not going to be able to solve all their problems, but unless you have a connection you don't even have a place to start. I guess that would be it."

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited