“Oh, The Things You Can Find”

Abstract

What is now simply referred to as “The Long War”, the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan—previously called Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom—have tested America’s resolve, have stretched America’s forces, and now comprise America’s longest combat engagement. So too, have Individual Augments, Service Members both active and reserve called to TDY orders, necessarily filled critical billets downrange, valiantly conducting missions which otherwise were staffed by organic troops before the Long War waged on. The following story details exposing the risks involved with being a so called, IA, fighting an enemy as insidiously dangerous as he is overtly threatening, the detainee. Beyond simply identifying a high-risk group of warriors, the authors offer Navy leadership a population-based, public health solution of boots-on-the-ground surveillance, intervention, and education.

“It’s high time you were shown that you really don’t know … Oh the things you can find if you don’t stay behind.”

Dr. Seuss from On Beyond Zebra (1955)