Okay people, I am here to talk about my second deployment to Iraq. We were there for 15 months this time and it was much different than the first deployment. I took over the Brigade Combat Team S1 in March of 06 and we deployed that October. We deployed to an area north of Baghdad and it was not a good area at all. Our S1 shop was responsible for deploying over 3,500 Soldiers within 5 days and this was minor task. I was on the advanced party so I could get everything setup on the other side to receive the BCT. The deployment to Baghdad was not that bad since our unit was in charge of all gates to the Green Zone, we did not see much fighting at all. However, this time was much different. Our unit was in charge of a large area and it was much more dangerous. We had our first casualty during our right seat, left seat ride time. This is where the unit we are taking over for is showing us what we are supposed to be doing. Then for the next 8 months we were having casualties on a regular. The Forward Operating base we were on was not too bad, we had a nice gym with an indoor basketball court and we eventually had a Pizza Hut. The FOB had to be pitch dark at night due to our location. We all lived in two to three man trailers which were not too bad at all. Our unit did an outstanding job of rooting out the insurgents and keeping the Iraqi people safe. When the surge happened in Baghdad we also received some help from a Stryker unit and some other infantry units. This helped out a great deal and allowed us to do a better job covering the area we were assigned. This deployment was very long and when our 15 months over we all were very happy. Being in charge of a BCT S1 is not an easy job especially while deployed. Our S1 shop was one of the best in the Division and we all worked together very well. We all came together to accomplish the mission and we made it happen.