MAJ Damon Schwan served as operations officer (S3) of a Military Transition Team (MiTT) in Sinjar, Nineveh Province, Iraq during 2009 and 2010 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). In this February 2011 interview, MAJ Schwan discusses the preparations for this assignment, the specific mission of the MiTT he served with, and some of the challenges of advising an Iraqi Army unit at this point in the conflict. MAJ Schwan concludes his interview with the observation, "Overall, when working with foreign forces or foreign situations in General [it's important] to make a deep effort, more than superficial, to understand the interests of those involved and to build relationships appropriate to that culture. When you understand those things that's the entry point to a successful relationship. If you want to be successful long-term you can't have short-term gains as your focus."

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