To all of you folks reading my site,
First off, let me tell y’all a bit about myself. I grew up in Conyers, Georgia—a small town 25 miles east of Atlanta—playing soccer, fishing, hunting, doing all the things boys do growing up. I was looking forward to earning a college scholarship playing soccer. This all came to a halt when I fractured my left tibia in a freak soccer collision my junior year in high school. I had a titanium rod and two pins inserted in my leg shortly thereafter.
Luckily, my parents made sure I did more than soccer. I graduated from Rockdale County High School high school in the top 5% in my class and earned a full academic scholarship based on my GPA and test scores to Presbyterian College, a great liberal arts college in South Carolina.
When I arrived at Presbyterian, I intended on getting a degree in business. Like many other of my peers, my major changed. Since I couldn’t choose between history and political science, I figured, “What the heck… I’ll do them both.” My college advisor is a Commander in the Naval Intelligence reserves and he encouraged me to join ROTC (“even if it is Army”, he said) and pursue a background in military intelligence. So I signed up. This meant I had to get more surgery to remove the rod and pins.
Since I joined ROTC later than the rest of the cadets, I had to catch up. By the end of my junior year I was the #3 cadet at a school where 12% of the student body is involved in ROTC. I absolutely enjoyed what I was doing. I loved hanging out in the woods, running around, and leading other people. The Army was a natural fit. During the summer and fall of my senior year, I was given the opportunity to study Western European politics and international relations at the University of Essex in England, which provided me the opportunity to witness the Iraq War surrounded by those different from me and give insight on the thoughts and feelings of people from all over Europe and Asia.
I returned to Presbyterian and finished up my final semester, getting commissioned on May 7, 2004. Immediately after my commissioning, I went to work for the ROTC department at Presbyterian as a recruiting officer. It was just an interim assignment before I headed off to my Officer Basic Course. However, it was an excellent learning opportunity and gave me my first look at Army life.
Before arriving in Germany, I went to the Military Intelligence Officer Basic Course in Fort Huachuca, Arizona. I served as class leader during my five and a half months there. My class was all second lieutenants—some from West Point, some from OCS, and, of course, ROTC. It was a good place to meet colleagues and make some great friends in the Army while learning our future roles as leaders in military intelligence.
Currently, I serve as a signals intelligence platoon leader with B (Bravo) Co., 501st Military Intelligence Battalion. My company directly supports 2nd Brigade of the 1st Armored Division. As the signals intelligence platoon leader, I also serve as the 2nd Brigade’s Signal Intelligence Officer, charged with briefing the S-2 (Main Intelligence Officer) and/or the Brigade Commander. I lead 20 Soldiers in accomplishing our mission from all over the United States. However, I am the only one from the South.
I am
currently training my platoon in preparation of
deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi
Freedom. My unit will deploy sometime in mid to late
November for a year-long rotation. This site is my
outlet for communicating life in a war zone, the ups and
downs of a Soldier’s life, and the burden and joys of
command. Enjoy, and may God bless you.
A.
Preston Long, Jr.
Second Lieutenant, United States Army
