3rd BCT commander talks mission, morale, missing home

FORT POLK, LA, UNITED STATES

03.02.2018

Story by Chuck Cannon 

Fort Johnson Public Affairs Office

“Things are going well for us in Iraq,” Sullivan said. “We have elements of the Patriot Brigade deployed now in northern and western Iraq, and also in Syria and Afghanistan.”
Sullivan said part of the 3rd BCT mission is to work with Syrian, Iraqi and Afghanistan partner forces pursuing the remnants of ISIS to ensure their military defeat.
“It’s a complex environment with a lot of ambiguity, but the Patriot Soldiers continue to thrive,” he said. “There are challenges that remain; we are optimistic for the future and particularly for Iraq as they approach their national election. We are confident they are going to choose a better path.”
Sullivan said it was important to note the great achievements of the Patriot Brigade back at Fort Polk.
“The priority for the Army is readiness and the team back at Fort Polk has maintained readiness incredibly well, while working through a litany of tasks in terms of keeping our equipment ready,” he said.
“They have trained very hard and executed a lot of collective live fires so that when we return to Fort Polk this summer the reintegration of the brigade will be seamless and we will remain a trained and ready brigade combat team prepared to answer the nation’s call when our mission to Iraq is completed.”
Sullivan thanked Fort Polk and the surrounding community for their support.
“As we execute this mission, we know that we are in everybody’s thoughts and prayers, and we know it’s those thoughts and prayers that make a difference,” he said.
When asked what the most challenging thing he and his Soldiers have faced during the deployment, Sullivan said it could be summed up with one word — ambiguity.
“The Iraqi leadership declared the military defeat of ISIS, but it was recognized there were still going to be some significant challenges that would remain,” he said.
“The declaration of the military defeat happened much more quickly than anyone anticipated, so we had to adjust the framework to support the Iraqis, and to maintain pressure on ISIS as it attempts to reorganize.”
Sullivan said it was important to help the Iraqis maintain pressure on ISIS as they (Iraqis) work through all other challenges they face.
“ISIS was really kind of a unifying cause that allowed them to avoid having to pay attention to a lot of the longstanding historical issues,” Sullivan said. “Not only did they (Iraqi leadership) have to deal with maintaining the defeat of ISIS, but also the historical mistrust between the Sunnis and Shias and between the Iraqis and Kurdistanis. It has been an incredibly intense war, and they have had to return the displaced persons to their homes, make sure the people have water to drink, healthcare, electricity, all in an environment that at any moment could turn incredibly violent.
“It’s working through all of those challenges and the ambiguity of not knowing that has been the biggest challenge.”
Sullivan said that visiting his Soldiers has also proved difficult at times.
“I’m living out of a medium ruck,” he said. “I stay on the road with the sergeant major (3rd BCT Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald Bly). I’m currently in Baghdad, and I’ll have to be here for about two weeks. It will be the first time since the deployment that I’ve actually slept in the same place for two weeks straight.”
Sullivan said he and Bly stay on the move, interacting with the unit’s Soldiers, “but just as importantly interacting with their Iraqi counterparts, so that we can maintain a good feel of what is happening on the ground with the Iraqi security forces, and gaining a sense of what ISIS is trying to do to continue to destabilize Iraq.”
Bly said morale remains high among the Soldiers.
“Although the Soldiers are missing their Families, they are staying in tune with their surroundings, remaining vigilant, and completing all their tasks with a high degree of esprit de corps,” he said.
Sullivan added that Bly has been “a gift” to the 3rd BCT.
“He just walks into the room and immediately makes everybody feel better,” Sullivan said. “That is one of his many values to the Soldiers and this brigade.”
As for the unit’s Soldiers, Sullivan said he has been impressed with their resilience.
“The way this deployment has unfolded is not what we expected, particularly with respect to the ambiguity,” he said. “We’ve communicated to the Soldiers that you can’t control the conditions of your deployment — the only thing you can control is how you serve within the deployment. We’ve challenged all the Soldiers to do their duty well, but more importantly to take advantage of the time they have here to return to Fort Polk better than when they deployed. I’ve observed they are taking advantage of that. They are growing intellectually, spiritually and physically.”
As for lessons learned at this point of the deployment, Sullivan said one stands out — when you don’t know what to do, do something positive.
“Trust your instincts,” he said. “If you trust your instincts and you do something positive, you’ll start moving in the right direction. Sometimes that’s all you can do in an environment to make a positive change. And just wake up every day and do your best.”
Sullivan said his Soldiers have taken advantage of advances in technology to stay in contact with Family members.
“While the Wi-Fi and Internet isn’t really good in Iraq, it’s been good enough,” he said. “Most Soldiers have some type of cell phone or tablet and they have connectivity with loved ones and are able to maintain those connections.”
As for as how his Soldiers have interacted with host nation soldiers and local civilians, Sullivan said for the most part, all is well.
“We have a long history with the Iraqi Army,” he said. “They see us as reliable partners. They communicated they want us by their side as they continue to work toward a better future, particularly the Iraqi Army and Federal Police. They’ve been receptive and want us as a partner because we are so reliable and capable. They know that we have their backs.”
He said the consensus is civilians feel the same way as the Iraqi soldiers. “They want a better future for themselves and their children, which is exactly what we want as well,” Sullivan said.
In closing, Sullivan had this message for Family, friends and fellow Soldiers: “Tell our Families we love them, we miss them, and we appreciate their thoughts and prayers and think about them every day. And we can’t wait to get back home. We also want to thank the 36th Infantry Division (Texas National Guard) and our parent unit, the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum (New York).
“We hope that how we are executing this mission will make our Families and teammates at Fort Polk proud, was well as our friends in Louisiana, Texas and New York.”

• Date Taken: 03.02.2018
• Date Posted: 03.23.2018 15:49
• Story ID: 270452
• Location: FORT POLK, LA, US