Talking History: Q&A with the 931st's deployed historian

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JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq --  Editor's note: Staff Sgt. Scott Gaitley, 931st Air Refueling Group historian, is deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. These are some of his thoughts about what he has seen in a few months.

Is this your first deployment to the Middle East? No, this is my third time to the Middle East. I served in the Persian Gulf from April, 1992, to April, 1993, and in Afghanistan from June to August of 2006. I arrived in Iraq in September and I'm scheduled to leave in January.

What's been the most rewarding part of your deployment so far? Having the opportunity to see for myself how the war is really going against terrorism. How we are positively impacting the majority of the country.

How does your deployment work differ from your working back at your unit? At McConnell there is only the 931st Air Refueling Group that I complete histories for. Here in Iraq, I'm responsible for the histories of five different Groups spread out over 60 different locations. I collect, analyze and utilize more than 4,500 documents every month. It is almost overwhelming at times.

Give an example of something you discovered on your deployment you were not expecting? How effective our Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance is along with the combined efforts of the military and civilian personnel utilized in order to apprehend insurgents. Also, I had the once in a lifetime opportunity to tour the ancient Sumerian city of Ur. This included the Ziggurat (temple) of Ur, kings' tombs, and the birthplace of Abraham, the prophet of Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

How much interaction do you have on a daily basis with other services, to include troops from other countries? What have you learned from that? I have daily interaction with the U.S. Army, occasionally with the Navy and rarely with Marines. But it was quite different when I was in Baghdad for a few days in October and November. There were numerous nationalities all over. During a trip to Ali Base in early December, we were constantly in contact with a Romanian brigade that utilizes all the base facilities alongside our forces. It was great talking with them and learning new perspectives.

You improved your fitness test score just before deploying. How important is physical conditioning to a successful deployment there? It is very important, especially when traveling with your body armor and 72-hour pack. I personally carry close to a 100 extra pounds when I travel around Iraq. This extra weight greatly adds strain to your knees and back. One cannot overlook the irregular terrain that consists of holes, uneven surfaces, and constant walking on river rock, which is common at deployed locations. This can wreak havoc on your ankles, knees and lower back. It can be treacherous to walk on. This does not count the impact of the heat on your body during the summer months.

What advice would you give another Airmen getting ready to deploy to the Middle East for the first time? Remain positive, keep yourself extremely busy, and interact with others as much as possible. Do not keep track of how many days that you have remaining, do something worthwhile each day and make a difference.