In this interview, MAJ Steven Barrier, US Army, Aviation; discusses his deployment to Iraq as the assistant brigade Aviation officer in 2006 through 2007 with 3rd Brigade Combat Team (BCT), 82nd Airborn Division in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). MAJ Barrier discusses a typical day and some of his missions with coordinating and managing the air space throughout his area. Barrier discusses the mentorship he received from his brigade operations officer (S3) and describes the mood during the surge. MAJ Barrier talks about some difficult challenges he overcame and closes his interview by stating, "I think we have it right in building versatile, adaptive, agile leaders."

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