Operations Specialist Second Class (OS2) (AW) Clayton Brown recently returned from a second individual augmentee (IA) overseas assignment. Brown worked for China Lake’s Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD) Tactical Dissemination Module (TDM). In 2009, Brown deployed to Baghdad at Camp Victory (CV) and then returned in 2010 for the same work.

From December 2010 through April 2011, as watch supervisor, Brown was in charge of building briefs, giving briefs to flight personnel, conducting on-deck radio checks and flight following (tracking) reconnaissance aircraft. The TDM crew typically worked 14-16 hours a day – sometimes longer.

“Once a week we had a day off, but we didn’t go ‘outside the wire.’ There was plenty to do for recreation inside the compound,” Brown said.

The camp was run by the Army, but considered a “joint” base. CV personnel always had to be mindful of random incoming mortar attacks. The camp was surrounded by T-walls that look like upside down T’s, approximately 12 feet high.

“One day I walked around the moat that encircled Camp Victory. While I was out, a mortar shelled the compound and hit right near the moral, welfare and recreation center,” Brown recalled. “We had camaraderie among the different U.S. service members; we worked side-by-side and shared intel information. There’s still a little bit of ‘service’ rivalry, but we got along well. We lived in two-man container housing units that we called ‘CHUs.’ We walked to the dining, shower and recreation facilities that were set up inside the compound.”

While overseas, Brown passed the Air Warfare (AW) test and earned his AW pin. He has since returned to reservist status and hopes to advance to Petty Officer First Class.

“I enjoyed my tour,” Brown said. “I was sad to see it come to an end. If I got the call to set TDM back up, I’d go.”

Between July 1995 – 1998, Brown was an active duty sailor aboard the USS Cleveland (LPD-7) based in San Diego, Calif. In 2007, he joined the reserves at Naval Operations Support Center Cincinnati, Ohio, and got involved with NAWCWD through the TDM program in 2009. Brown plans to spend time with his family after he returns to Kentucky and take them on a special family holiday. Following that, he has planned a mini-honeymoon to St. Louis, Mo., with his wife.