‘Warrior’ Brigade Soldier witnesses progress over three deployments by Sgt. David Strayer 109th MPAD
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq – The war in Iraq—starting with Operation Iraqi Freedom, and now concluding with Operation New Dawn—has crossed over several calendars, requiring many soldiers to be mobilized and deployed numerous times.
Staff Sgt. Ray Pelon, a personal security detachment team leader currently deployed to Joint Base Balad, Iraq, has seen the war in Iraq in its three most significant stages: the invasion, the surge, and now, Operation New Dawn.
Pictured: Staff Sgt. Ray Pelon, a personal security detachment team leader assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2nd Battalion, 11th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, works with one of his soldiers on the range during marksmanship training with the M249 squad automatic weapon at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. Pelon is currently serving on his third deployment to Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn, after previously deploying during the initial invasion and the troop surge
After the successful invasion and dismantling of Saddam Hussein’s regime in 2003, coalition forces began the task of establishing security to protect Iraq’s citizens and national borders.
U.S. forces began a mentorship role which transitioned into the present advise, train and assist task of OND.
“In 2004, the operations tempo was very high, and we were always busy,” said Pelon. “I didn’t have a wife and child like I do now; it was a different mindset, it was all about the mission.”
“On my second deployment to Iraq, which took place during the troop surge in 2007, the main push was to really start training the Iraqi army and police,” Pelon added. “Since we were starting from scratch, we had to get Iraqi citizens to volunteer, which was an act of bravery in itself.”
The “Warrior” Brigade soldier noted that among the greatest challenges from his experiences was getting ISF leaders to understand and embrace the value of the non-commissioned officer corps and leaders at junior levels.
“For the Iraqi army, historically, the higher pay grade officers have always been the only ones with all of the authority and responsibility,” he said.
When U.S. forces displayed the amount of responsibility and authority entrusted to American NCOs and even junior enlisted team leaders, Iraqi officers were surprised, said Pelon.
“It demonstrates to them how professional an army can be when it empowers and trusts in its leaders at all levels,” he said. “Each time they see our battalion commander with the battalion command sergeant major, essentially making decisions and acting together, as one voice from two people, it sets the example.”
The efforts of past years by Iraqi and U.S. forces culminated in the conclusion of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the onset of Operation New Dawn. U.S. Forces now operate in strictly support-oriented roles; advising and continuing to train and assist ISF.
“We are not kicking in doors or taking prisoners anymore; those days are over,” said Capt. Paul Flemming, assistant operations officers with the 2nd Bn., 11th FA Regt., now on his second tour to Iraq. “Our whole goal now is to empower the Iraqi army through training and guidance, setting them up for success when we leave.”
“Things are a lot slower and deliberate now; we take things step by step, and all of the groundwork for our current advise, train, and assist mission has been laid by the soldiers who have been here in the past,” said Pelon, who happens to be one of those soldiers who contributed to the foundations of New Dawn.
At this point, U.S. soldiers help make small adjustments or refine skills when asked by Iraqi leaders, but the Iraqi troops are largely self-sufficient, he said.
Continuing to draw from his first-hand accounts of progress made in Iraq, Pelon said throughout the process of forming and training the ISF, the Iraqis who volunteered their service to their country have always been eager to learn and receive training, always growing more confident in their abilities and their leadership.
Relatively few Americans enter the military in service of their country, and of those, soldiers with multiple deployments are fewer. Pelon said he feels fortunate to be among that group.
“I really think that I am lucky—the biggest thing I take away from my experience of my three deployments is gratification,” said Pelon. “I played a part in something a lot bigger than myself, and was able to see it at all of its most crucial moments. It is gratifying to see the progress Iraq has made and know that we are about to complete our mission here.”
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