Photo By Sgt. George Welcome | Brig. Gen. James McConville, Combined Joint Task Force - 101 Deputy Commanding...... read more read more
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By Spc. George Welcome
101st Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs
JALALABAD AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Soldiers of Task Force Out Front assembled at a maintenance hangar to participate in an awards ceremony Nov. 8, 2008.
Brig. Gen James McConville, Combined Joint Task Force-101 Deputy Commanding General, Support, was on hand to preside over the event. The awards presented to the Soldiers included Air Medals and Bronze Stars. Chief Warrant Officer 3 Sean Gilland was presented the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Out Front, a multi-functional task force has been operating in Jalalabad for the past 11 months, providing critical aviation support for Infantry units throughout the region. During his address following the presentation of the awards, McConville praised the Soldiers of the task force for always being ready to support the Soldier on the ground.
"What matters is supporting the guy on the ground, and that's what you have done exceptionally well," McConville said. "Looking at the citations for all the awards, there was a common theme; when your brothers on the ground were in trouble, you came to their aid. You came to their aid without regard for your own safety. That's what the cavalry in aviation is all about."
The awards ceremony was a way to honor the hard work and dedication of the Soldiers of Task Force Out Front, who are conducting aviation operations in Jalalabad and the surrounding areas on a much larger scale than previous units have attempted. Due to their successful efforts, successive units will not only have a vastly improved infrastructure, but a proven model to serve as an operational template.
"It feels great to know that we built a blueprint and a physical foot print for future units to operate from here at Jalalabad," said Lt. Col. John Lynch, Task Force Out Front commander. "Some detailed planning on facilities combined with priority from the Brigade combat teams made it (infrastructure projects) all come together. Operationally, we came here with the specific purpose of supporting the brigade combat teams with the absolute best support we could provide using all the capabilities the task force brings to the fight. We integrated fully with the BCTs and their subordinate battalions and have experienced tremendous success as a result."
Although only a handful of Soldiers received awards, the success that the task force has achieved during the course of the deployment was the result of every member of the team doing their part.
"The success of the task force is a team effort, with everyone pulling together in the same direction, with the same goal of providing first class aviation support to the ground Solider," said Lynch. "Our success is a direct reflection of the hard work and dedication of each Soldier."
| Date Taken: | 11.11.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 11.11.2008 04:23 |
| Story ID: | 26190 |
| Location: | JALALABAD, AF |
| Web Views: | 168 |
| Downloads: | 137 |
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