CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait - Spc. Brian O’Hanlon is from Ardmore, Okla., where his wife Jessica and his seven-month-old daughter Olivia await his return home.

Once he returns home, O’Hanlon plans on working toward a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy. In his spare time, he enjoys hanging out with his friends and family and watching his little girl grow up.

O’Hanlon has been in the military for five years, all of which he has spent as a member of 1-180th Cavalry. He is on his first deployment, and when asked what he thinks about the deployment, O’Hanlon says, “It was a great way to make money, bond with friends and further my education.”

During this deployment O’Hanlon teamed up with Cpl. Derrick Riley, Spc. Frank Harjo and Spc. Joshua Knighten to earn his gold spurs at the 1-180th Cavalry Spur Ride. He also is able to boast being one of the five soldiers of the 1-180th Cavalry to finish all the tasks put forth in the EIB and earn his Expert Infantryman Badge.

O’Hanlon’s unit, the 1-180th Cavalry, is headquartered in Durant, Okla., and has units stationed in Ada, McAlester and Poteau. The unit has been mobilized as part of the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team since April 2011. It has trained at Camp Shelby, Miss., Fort Polk, La., and has been deployed to Kuwait since July.

In Kuwait, the unit has completed several missions, including the support of the withdrawal of the final troops and equipment from Iraq this past December. O’Hanlon took part in numerous convoy security missions into Iraq before January.

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