In this December 2011 interview MAJ Downing discusses his 16-month deployment to Afghanistan. Originally slated as a four-month deployment MAJ Downing discusses the challenges he faced as a company commander with the extension, the beginning of the surge, and the types of unique missions he and his company were performing at that time in Afghanistan. MAJ Downing concludes his interview by stating that it's important to continue training while you're deployed and to always be proactive because as a leader that is what you get paid to do.

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