|
 When
U.S. Army Major Shannon
Fortner arrived in Iraq in
March of 2003 it was during
the initial phase of the
invasion.
“It was my first deployment
in any arena,” so being in
the ramp-up portion was
particularly interesting and
illuminating, she said.
Fortner’s job title was
“Adjutant”, in the Logistics
Cell of a Battalion.
“I just helped run [the
battalion],” she said. “It
was interesting to get all
the soldiers ready and
account for them and get
them on the planes and go
through the readiness
portion, getting them to
Kuwait and then forward into
Iraq.”
Stationed in Tikrit, Fortner
“quickly sorted through the
chaos to focus on those
tasks essential to the
battalion’s successful
deployment,” states the
citation of the Bronze Star
Medal she earned for the
deployment.
Fortner’s efforts ensured
that personnel deployment
was properly phased, and
also worked to facilitate a
“rapid building of combat
power in theater,” according
to the citation.
“It was through her personal
efforts that the Battalion
was able to precisely track
soldiers dispersed in a 3500
square kilometer area of
operation,” as well as those
that were medically
evacuated from that theater
of operation, the citation
states.
Interacting with the
soldiers as they arrived and
deployed within Iraq, as
well as being part of their
career progress and
participating in their
promotion ceremonies are
among the things that
Fortner liked best about her
duties. She also tracked
injured soldiers on their
journeys back to the United
States and through their
recoveries as well, she
said.
Fortner demonstrated
“brilliant leadership
qualities” as Adjutant and
“Battalion Captain”, the
citation states.
“Her ability to remain
focused on the commander's
priorities ensured that all
staff sections remained
synchronized,” the citation
states.”
While she might have earned
her Bronze Star in part for
her own leadership
qualities, it was the
leadership of the men and
women she worked with that
she found inspiring.
“They were all awesome
leaders,” she said.
Fortner is currently
attending the U.S. Army’s
Command and General Staff
College with some of the
same people she met during
that deployment.
“They were willing to get
out there and be a part,”
she said. “We don’t do
combat, but we do go out and
do support…They would get
out there and lead and take
care of [the soldiers]. All
of them were just fabulous.”
Fortner was successful in
her work, despite restricted
resources.
“Her ability to creatively
work through bureaucracy and
procedural uncertainty
ensured that soldiers'
personnel actions were
executed in an accurate and
timely manner, increasing
soldier morale across the
task force,” the citation
states.
“I came back as a stronger
leader and with a better
understanding of what troops
go through when they deploy.
And that’s exactly why I
volunteered to redeploy,”
she said.
In January of 2005 she
deployed back to Iraq, this
time as company commander.
“Just being able to go over
there and take care of
soldiers and lead,” was a
great experience she said.
“Being with soldiers is the
best gig. Absolutely.”
Fortner was a “great asset”
to the entire battalion, the
citation states. |
