In this interview, LTC Kevin B. Bucy relates his experiences as a Training Team leader and mentor deployed during Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) from July 2008 to August 2009. LTC Bucy's team was assigned to mentor the 4th Kandak (Combat Support) of the 209th Afghan National Army (ANA) Corps. There LTC Bucy's team fell into the footprint of the Regional Command - North (RC-North) controlled by a Regular Army commander, but with a German officer in charge of the battlespace as the senior mentor to the 209th ANA Corps. LTC Bucy helped train the Afghan artillery battery in the techniques of indirect fire with their Soviet made artillery pieces and fire direction equipment -- a task made easier by his extensive experience as a Field Artillery officer. During his interview, LTC Bucy describes the composition of the coalition mentoring contingent, noting that over nine NATO allies (besides the Americans) had teams operating in the province -- which posed challenges due to differences in logistics support, equipment, and national caveats on the local rules of engagement. In reflecting on his experiences, LTC Bucy cites the ILE curriculum, which he had completed just prior to deployment, as particularly helpful in Afghanistan since it was "fresh and relevant" to his mission. He also spoke at length on the team size as a constrain, noting that he often had to "trade" missions with other teams when his team was short of personnel due to leaves and other absences.

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