1-162 In Operation Iraqi Freedom II

CSM Brunk W. Conley

• Editorial: Tannenberg Publishing
• Año: 2014
• ISBN:
  9781782893264
• Categoría: History
• Categoría: Military & Maritime History

This is a paper concerning the federal activation of the 2-162 IN battalion out of Oregon, their mobilization experience, deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II, the redeployment back to Conus and Oregon, and the repercussions of the mission on the Soldiers as they reintegrated back into their families, jobs, and society.

CONTEXT— PERSONAL BACKGROUND

I enlisted in the Army in the Delayed Entry Program in December, 1981. My contract was as an airborne/ranger, 11B Infantryman, with assignment to the 2nd Ranger Battalion in Ft. Lewis, Washington. Once my initial basic/AIT/airborne training was completed, I reported to the Ranger Indoctrination Program located on North Fort Lewis. From there, I was assigned to 1St Squad, 3`d Platoon, Alpha Company, 2-75 Rangers at the end of January.

I was selected to attend Pre-ranger in June of 1983, and then reported to Ranger School in August of 1983. After completion, we were alerted for Grenada, and moved to Hunter Army Airfield near Ft. Stewart Georgia. I was pulled from the mission because of limited space, 10 feet from getting on the plane. I say that now because had I gone to Grenada, I am not sure I would have stayed in the Army. I stayed because of wanting to prove myself and answer internal questions as to how I would have performed. My platoon returned three days later, and the casualties that were sustained by the battalion had all came from my platoon.

After Grenada, I attended Special Operations Training at Ft. Bragg, the Jumpmaster MTT held at Ft. Lewis, Pathfinder course, and PNCOC. I spent my last year on special duty at the Huckleberry Creek Mountain Training Center near Mt. Rainer. In the fall of 1986, I completed my initial service on my contract and entered civilian life, and started attending school and graduated with a bachelor's degree in education. I began a career as an educator at the high school level teaching physics and chemistry, and coaching football and baseball.

My military career continued with the Oregon Army National Guard when I joined a TOW company in Silverton Oregon as a scout team leader. I got out for a short period due to lack of motivation.

Later, when I improved my attitude, I rejoined the National Guard in the same unit was promoted to Staff Sergeant and became the scout section leader. I had another break in service due to the unit going through an MTOE change to mechanized infantry.

I rejoined in 1995 as a squad leader in an OPFOR platoon that supported the OPFOR missions for units across the entire state. I was very happy and content to stay in that unit forever. Then the unit fell apart. I had come to a crossroads in my career. I had about ten years time in service and needed to decide to get out for good, or complete the last ten years toward my retirement. I chose to stay in and get serious about my career. I made sure that I put myself into position to get promoted to higher levels of responsibility. I was selected for Sergeant First Class and took over as the PSG for the infantry platoon in Echo Company 1-162 IN, in Salem, Oregon, in 1998. I did that for about three years, and was selected as the 1SG for B Co, 2-162 IN, in Corvallis Oregon, in the spring of 2001.

The unit was alerted for Operation Iraqi Freedom II in August of 2003. The BN CSM chose to retire and I was the number one E-8 on the promotion list. The BN CMDR interviewed three candidates and selected me for the position. We were mobilized on OCT 12th into federal active service; I was promoted to SGM and laterally promoted to CSM that same day. I deployed with HHC 2-162 IN as the CSM from OCT 03 to APR 05. Since then, I was selected to take the 41st BCT in July 2004. The unit held the position for me while I finished the OIF II deployment. Recently I have just returned from being deployed as the Task Force Phoenix CSM in Kabul, Afghanistan from Jan, 2006 to present.

This paper will be primarily concerned with the deployment of the 2nd Battalion 162 Infantry, as a round out battalion of the 39th BCT of Arkansas, with assignment to the 1St Cavalry Division in Baghdad, Iraq.

ALERT, ACTIVATION, AND MOBILIZATION

In August of 2003 my battalion was alerted for duty in OIF II, and was activated on October 1st, 2003. We were not activated as a unit with our own brigade, the 41St IN BCT. We were a round out battalion for the 39th BCT out of Arkansas, because they were short one battalion after duty in Egypt for the MFO mission. We were to be assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division once we arrived in theatre. The Battalion CSM retired, and again I had come out number one on the list for consideration to promotion to SGM/CSM. I interviewed for the job with the Battalion Commander and was selected as the CSM for the 2-162 IN. I was promoted upon our activation and we moved...