CAMP BUEHRING, KUWAIT — Second Lt. John R. Boyd didn’t expect to receive such a fulfilling mission straight out of the Officer’s Basic Course. Luckily for him, his unit was deployed two months after his graduation to Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

When asked about his thoughts on his first deployment, the young Lieutenant focused on the safety of his troops in what he described as a "high threat environment." He further elaborated his leadership style:

"You know, as a second lieutenant straight out of the OBC, I didn’t expect much but now that I’m here I’m glad to be leading these troops. I stress safety at every turn. My guys have been wearing their eye protection for the last eight months every day. They told me at the OBC that I would most likely lose a soldier on my first deployment but I’m happy to say that hasn’t happened and will not happen with me in charge. We’ve had zero scratched corneas while deployed and I’d like to think that it’s my hard stance on safety that’s gotten us here."

When asked about his new Platoon Leader, 22-year Sgt. 1st Class Franklin G. Wright was nothing but praiseful.