Photo By Tech. Sgt. Sara Kolinski | Brigadier General Christopher Faux, Massachusetts National Guard assistant adjutant...... read more read more
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The 104th Fighter Wing held a decoration ceremony to present a Bronze Star and the National Guard Association of the United States Distinguished Flying Award for 2018 on Sept. 8, 2019.
Senior Master Sgt. Stephen Jeffers, 104th FW security forces manager, received the Bronze Star for his meritorious achievement from Oct. 19, 2018 to April 25, 2019, while serving as the 451st Expeditionary Support Squadron superintendent at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan.
During this period, while deployed in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel and the Resolute Support Mission, Jeffers was personally exposed to significant risk of hostile action during nine separate indirect fire attacks. While deployed, Jeffers directed services, personnel, logistics, civil engineering, communications, and integrated defense for the largest support squadron in the Air Force’s Central Command area of responsibility.
“I am extremely humbled by the Bronze Star, and very proud of the individual accomplishments of our deployed Airmen,” said Jeffers. “To be frank, I am still trying to wrap up all the emotions. To lead a team from 16 different AFSC’s, in a complex combat environment, truly tests the fortitude and work ethic of those within the organization. I will always cherish my time with the 451st Expeditionary Support Squadron, and use the experience to further enhance lethality and readiness in support of the defense of our American way of life.”
The NGAUS Distinguished Flying Award for 2018 was presented to the 104th FW during the ceremony. The award is in recognition of the unit’s outstanding performance in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve 2018, when over 250 wing members deployed to Campia Turzii Air Base, Romania, as part of a theater security package from June to September 2018.
Colonel Peter T. Green III, 104th FW commander, attributed the award to the efforts of the wing as a whole.
“It does take every single person in this organization to be able to produce the results that we were able to win with this award,” said Green. “For the commonwealth, we let the taxpayers know and my boss, Governor Charles Baker, know that his Air National Guard is ready, willing and able to respond both to the commonwealth and the nation.”
The NGAUS Distinguished Flying Award was established in 1959 and first awarded in 1960. This award recognizes outstanding Air National Guard flying units. The selection of the winner is based on overall combat readiness during the reporting year and the unit’s performance with respect to all other Air Guard flying units.
Factors included in the evaluation are flying safety; aircraft operation readiness; weapons firing; unit alerts; unit manning; skill level qualifications; retention; drill attendance; operational readiness inspections; outstanding accomplishments and special missions and exercises
“I am exceptionally proud our Wing’s performance,” said Green. “Every day, the men and women of the 104th Fighter Wing work hard to deliver exceptional results in supporting our expeditionary flying and alert missions, while simultaneously deploying all over the world in support of our national security strategy. This award belongs to them.”
| Date Taken: | 09.12.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 09.12.2019 09:59 |
| Story ID: | 340018 |
| Location: | WESTFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, US |
| Web Views: | 382 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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