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 Tennessee Guardsmen reflect on growing experience By Spc. Jessica Zullig
                135th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
 CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq - The ground rumbled under the weight of more than 50 trucks rolling through the Iraq night. Bright stars illuminated the route for the convoy security team from 2nd Platoon, Troop K, 3rd Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment of the Tennessee Army National Guard. The platoon provided security for the movement of equipment and assets from Contingency Operating Base Q-West, Iraq, as part of the transition to stability operations for United States Division - North. "We are tasked to provide security for the movement of equipment to facilitate the redeployment of another squadron there and the preparation to transition Q-West from the control of U.S. forces to Iraqi forces," said Maj. Wiley Hammer, assistant future operations planner for 3/278th ACR. "The movements include anything from vehicles to life support equipment." The road these Soldiers have traveled and the lessons they have learned, will stay with them throughout their career. Staff Sgt. Donald Defrees, a platoon sergeant for the unit, has seen his Soldiers grow over the last eight months, observing nothing but improvement. The biggest challenge for the team was training for this mission," said Defrees, who is on his fourth deployment. "It's new to everyone, but these guys really have a can-do attitude." 1st Lt. Brian West, 2nd platoon leader, appreciates the Soldiers in his platoon and how fast they caught on. "You don't have to worry about whether they are going to get the job done or not," he said. "Not only does that show that they have grown over this short amount of time, but it also allows the platoon sergeant and myself to do our jobs." Defrees and West work well together, always keeping each other on the same page and providing one another with the information they need to care for their Soldiers and complete the mission. "Lt. West is a good leader," said Defrees. "He's prior enlisted and understands a [non-commissioned officer's] job better than other officers. We cooperate well." Soldiers within the platoon mirror the experience their leaders' have gained. "We have really come together as a team," said Spc. Brandon Watkins, a .50 caliber Browning machine-gunner for the unit. "We have Soldiers organic to the unit as well as some from outside the unit. We've come a long way and have grown to work together well."
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