News

Reservist injured during second Iraq tour returns from third deployment

  • Published
  • By Sandra Pishner
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Calling the police to help fix a leaking toilet is generally the sort of call that can get you in trouble for taking up an officer's valuable time. But it one case, it was a call gladly answer as an assist to the spouse of one their own who was deployed - for the third time - to Iraq. 

Senior Master Sgt. Jeff Sursley, 446th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight, returned from Iraq Oct. 3. In his civilian position, Sergeant Sursley is a police officer with the Moses Lake Police Department, Moses Lake, Wash. 

Unlike his previous tours, where he operated at the tactical level dealing with improvised explosive devises and the like, on this tour the Reserve senior NCO served in a staff position at the Combined Joint Task Force. 

"My tour was immensely different this time," said Sergeant Sursley, who was injured in an IED explosion in October 2006. "I was working at the Corps level developing situation reports and operations reports for the explosive ordnance forces in Iraq." 

The CJTF provided 24-hour capability to the ground forces in Iraq, taking information, answering questions and essentially developing a history of IED and insurgency activity. 

"These SITREPS and operations reports allow the commander on the ground the ability to see what's happening and adjust his forces as necessary," said Sergeant Sursley.  "These reports are not only useful today, but will be useful 10 years down the road." 

The reports cover the number of teams on the ground, the makeup of the teams, how effective they are and make note of the manpower and resources needed to affect the fight. 

While working a staff position is much less stressful than being in a tactical position, it wasn't a stroll in the park either. 

"You try staffing a report through an office of eight to 10 people," said Sergeant Sursley with smirk. "But, at the staff level, I could see all the things I use to complain about from the tactical level, and I could see why things were put together the way they were. It definitely gave me a better look at the big picture. 

That big picture included working with servicemembers from all four services, as well as Great Britain and Australia. 

"It was a great opportunity to understand others' philosophies. There's not really a huge difference in how we all look at and address the same problems," said the sergeant. 

According to Master Sgt. Travis Hargitt, 446th CES EOD program manager, Sergeant Sursley's latest deployment was invaluable. 

"It's hard for Reservists to get a joint service position, yet it is so important in growing our enlisted into their senior stripes," said Sergeant Hargitt. "Deployments like this are the rare opportunities we have to gain experience at a major command level and understanding the staff work that is done at that level." 

Sergeant Sursley will have some time now to digest all he has learned in this last deployment. With three trips to Iraq in eight years, he's not likely to go again anytime soon, unless he volunteers. 

"I don't see that happening. Charlene (his wife), changes houses every time I deploy. One more deployment and I'm not sure I would get the new address when I came back," said Sergeant Sursley as a grin stretched across his face. 

The head of the Moses Lake Police Department also is relieved to have Sergeant Sursley back for a while. Reservists make up 10 percent of the police force in Moses Lake. 

"It's always difficult when one of our officers is gone and has been a real challenge the last five years," said Police Chief Dean Mitchell, Moses Lake Police Department. "We have some other officers in our department who are also Reservists and it seems when one comes back the other deploys. It's kind of like playing hopscotch." 

Sergeant Sursley is not just a police officer, he's a member of the department's SWAT team, is on the Honor Guard, and participates in a host of extra duties. 

"We feel a big void when he or any of our other Reserve officers are gone," said Chief Mitchell. "But we do what we can to support them and their families. We feel it's our patriotic duty to fulfill. We let the families know we're here to help them and we try to keep in touch." 

While supporting their officers in the Reserve and Guard can be difficult for a small department, the police chief also recognizes the win-win in the situation. 

"Police officers who are also in the military are, in my experience, a cut above and bring valuable experience to the force with the extra training they receive in the military. Jeff has expertise in explosive ordnance because of his military career and that really pays off for us." 

And while they were glad to wholeheartedly support Reservists like Sergeant Sursley, his fellow officers at the Moses Lake Police Department prefer to have him fix his own leaking toilets.