In this February 2012 interview, MAJ Brian Gilbert, Armor, discusses his deployment to Iraq as part of the Surge. MAJ Gilbert served as a company team leader while stationed in southeast Baghdad and was responsible for his own area of operations (AO). MAJ Gilbert discusses the challenges he faced working with Iraqi nationals both Sunni and Shi'a and serving on city councils, something he wasn't trained to do. An interesting fact to note is that while deployed MAJ Gilbert received the General MacArthur Leadership Award, an award given to the company grade officers who demonstrate the ideals for which GEN MacArthur stood for, duty, honor, and country. MAJ Gilbert concludes his interview by stating that regardless of mission, it's important to train for every contingency you may face and to prep the element you're in charge of to the best your ability prior to deploying.

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