A conversation with the Lieutenant Colonel

“Our mission is to do a job, not to bring everyone back," said Lt. Col. Burt Owens. "But if we can bring everyone back, we want to."

Violence is down in Iraq. The 76th’s mission is shaped by these changing security needs. The brigade will be broken up into units of about 100 soldiers to provide security for convoys and guard towers at bases.

40 percent of the 76th ICBT is on its second deployment, Owens said. All of the leadership has prior deployment and a lot the non-commission officers are on their second deployments.

"This is good training," Owens said, comparing it to his training when he was deployed to Afghanistan. "The level of training has improved. Non-commissioned officers are making the difference. Good NCOs run missions. They’re the ones out there."

The training is more realistic given the lessons learned in Iraq. “More gun time, not to be a warmonger,” Lt. Col. Owens said. “Weapons are tools. An apprentice has the same tools as a journeymen, but less confidence in how to use them.”

“You can kill yourself just as much as you can kill others.”

Drilling will give confidence, less panic, less mistakes. These guys are more confident now, he said. “All redundancy creates muscle memory. The reaction itself will save soldiers.”

He expounded on the Army's new philosophy-- Interact first, shoot second.
“Every time we kill someone, we create enemies. We’re here to make friends.”

“This is not a meat grinder war,” he said. “Look at how many soldiers are killed compared to the casualties. The sheer numbers there will cause you to take some hits.”

“I was outside the gate every day in Afghanistan, and I came back fine.”