Sample 1: End of Tour Interview:

For the record, please state your full name and your current position.

1. When did you assume command of 1st Cavalry Division Engineer Brigade?

a. Describe the organization’s mission and your responsibilities.

b. What was your intent?

c. When did you deploy?

d. How long was your tour?

2. Describe the strategic situation in Iraq when you arrived.

a. Did you have any overlap with your predecessor? How did he describe the situation you were inheriting?

3. What was your mission?

a. Describe some of the most important projects you worked on.

i. How did you select them? How were they funded? (CERP?)

ii. Have any of the projects been particularly successful?

b. Did you encounter some notable challenges?

i. Funding?

ii. Contractors? Competence levels, corruption, reliability?

iii. Local authorities, particularly judges?

iv. Import of materials? Customs? Local taxes? Border closings?

4. Security, or the lack thereof, has been a huge concern for units operating in Iraq. What was your experience?

5. How did you coordinate with the Gulf Region Division?

6. Shortly after your return to the U.S., you were selected for another assignment in Iraq. When and how were you selected as Reconstruction Advisor to the Commander, Multi-National Corps – Iraq. Describe your assignment.

a. Did you receive guidance from the Chief of Engineers?

b. What was your command and reporting relationships within USACE and coalition forces in Iraq?

c. How did your experience with the 1st CAV prepare you for your assignment?

7. Give me a snapshot of MNC-I and the security situation in Iraq.

a. What were the issues in the different regions and Multi-National Divisions? What were some of the most important projects?

b. Who were your key leaders?

8. How did you coordinate with the Gulf Region Division?

9. What were some lessons learned from your deployments?

--- Switching gears to your current assignment as DCG for Military and International Operations---

10. For the past two years you have been the DCG for Military and International Operations.

a. What factors do you think led to your selection?

b. Describe your intent and mission.

11. For OIF and OEF the Corps has deployed a large number of civilians to a combat theater. From your perspective, how have the civilians adapted to life in Iraq?

12. At times, the Corps had difficulty attracting an adequate numbers of volunteers to staff all of its positions in theater. How did that impact its mission?

13. How have military members adapted to working so closely with civilians in a deployed environment?

14. Looking back over two year as DCG, do you recall any of your projects or programs as having been particularly successful or rewarding?

15. On the flip side of that equation, were there any projects of programs that proved notably difficult?

16. Based on Army Engineers’ experience in OIF and OEF, plus exposure to Air Force and Navy engineers, will the Army change the way it educates and trains engineers in the future?

17. Your next assignment will be as Deputy Commanding General, III Corps in Fort Hood, Texas. What is your mission going to be?

18. I’ve asked you a steady stream of questions. Is there anything that we didn’t cover that you would like to add to the historical record?

• Ask for documents and pictures.
• Who else should we interview?

Sample 2: Standard Questionnaire:

1. Please give your name and affiliation.

2. Give a brief history of your career concluding in your current assignment.

• Which particular course/command in your professional education prepared you for your assignment?

3. Briefly describe how you became involved with TAD and operations in Afghanistan?

• When did you arrive in country?

• How long is your tour?

4. What is your assignment with TAA? Describe the organization’s mission and your responsibilities.

• Did you have overlap with your predecessor? What kind of advice did he give you?

• Could you describe the staffing of your office?

5. Describe some of the most important projects you worked on.

• Have any of the projects been particularly successful?

~Funding? Reconstruction funding also came from a variety of sources. What kinds of funds was the Corps able to use? Were some of those funds easier to use than others? What have been some of the challenges executing work using different funding sources?

~Contractors? Competence levels, corruption, reliability?

~Local authorities, particularly judges?

~Import of materials? Customs? Local taxes? Border closings?

• What are your impressions about working with Afghan nationals?

~Local contractors?

6. Have you encountered some notable challenges?

7. What were your experiences working with the Special Investigator for Afghanistan Reconstruction?

8. Security, or the lack thereof, has been a huge concern for units operating in Afghanistan. What was your experience?

9. In late 2009, U.S. troops started to surge into Afghanistan. Now TAA is drawing down. How did you manage the consolidation? What were the most important issues? How has it affected situational awareness?

10. What kinds of USACE assets will remain in Afghanistan after TAA dissolves? What is their mission?

11. The Corps has deployed this large a number of civilians to a combat theater. Have there been unexpected challenges?

• Did you have issues finding the right people with the right skills? Contracting officers?

12. What are some lessons learned from your assignment/ deployment?

13. Is there anything not covered above that you would like to add to the historical record?

• Would you please provide documents and pictures related to the projects you mentioned?
• Please provide a permanent contact address/ email/telephone number to USACE Office of History for follow up questions.
• Whom else would you recommend for an oral history interview?