Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Daniel Kozlowski is a Traditional Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer with the Indiana Army National Guard. LTC Kozlowski was within post-deployment dwell time in early 2005 when he was asked to mobilize and deploy with the 219th Area Support Group (ASG) in June 2005 to Iraq. LTC Kozlowski received the rare opportunity to serve on an Active Duty for Operational Support (ADOS) order prior to mobilization in order to train up his team and help the 219th ASG staff prepare for the mobilization. During the spring and summer 2005, LTC Kozlowski participated in two Command Post Exercises (CPX) in preparation for deployment. After two shifts in deployment dates, LTC Kozlowski mobilized with the 219th ASG in January 2006 and underwent a 39 day train up period at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center (CAJMTC). Despite a shift in mission from Iraq from Afghanistan, the unit did not receive Area of Operation (AO) specific during the training process. LTC Kozlowski noted that despite the change in mission, his unit received only cultural training on Iraq accompanied with the rationale that "well, it's about the same". Once in Afghanistan, LTC Kozlowski found major challenges in resolving command and control and Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) relationships between the 219th ASG and other units on the base. LTC Kozlowski notes the impact and influence that personality plays on the effective application of leadership in deployment operations. LTC Kozlowski had the unique opportunity to witness the operation of a civilian Shar'ia law court applying Islamic justice. He also discusses the issue of resolving land title issues prior to an expansion project of the Bagram airbase. LTC Kozlowski highlights the critical importance of a gifted Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) in handling Soldier care as well as ensuring the full integration of a special staff sections into unit operations. LTC Kozlowski closes his interview with advice for unit commanders to "take only your A-Team" and to decisively handle performance problems revealed during pre-mobilization training. LTC Kozlowski notes that problems during pre-mobilization training will carry on to the deployment and "don't think that you can train the problem away."

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