During Exercise African Lion 2018, Sergeant Soldier's unmatched drive for perfection, outstanding leadership skills and consummate professionalism while assisting and advising allied forces resulted in effective joint operations. He single-handedly developed periods of instruction to cater to the Moroccans' level of understanding due to language barriers. Sergeant Soldier's foresight and planning resulted in classes for 7 JTACs on the CAS Execution Template, Fixed Wing CAS 9 line, Rotary Wing CAS 5 line and the practical application of these classes. During live fire exercises, Sergeant Soldier mentored the Moroccan JTACs with close air support of F/A-18s and Moroccan F-16s and F-5s. His patience, control and drive enabled the Moroccans to execute the CAS Execution Template in accordance with the JTAC MOA and subsequently gain confidence and trust in their own abilities to request and control close air support. This marked the first time in more than 45 years that live ordinance was dropped on Moroccan soil since the Military Coup of 1972. Sergeant Soldier's actions bring great credit upon himself, 1st Battalion, 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade and the United States Army.
Meritorious service while serving as JTAC, Camp Red Cloud AIN, South Korea from XXXXXXX to XXXXXXXXX. During this period, Sergeant Coates facilitated 48 close air support sorties and 13 live missions as part of the coalition effort to enforce persistent USFK air presence. He also provided essential theater wide communication capabilities for three joint peninsula wide exercises. Sergeant Coates also helped train 12 Special Warfare JTACs on CAS request tactics, techniques, and procedures which strengthened the Republic of Korea's deep strike capabilities. Finally, his keen attention to detail was showcased during a Korean VIP live bombing range exercise when he declared the immediate inadvertent presence of unauthorized personnel on the bombing range impact area. Sergeant Coates' quick response to notify the controlling JTAC directly prevented the death of more than 35 civilians. Sergeant Coates' distinguished accomplishments and loyal devotion to duty bring great credit upon himself, 607th Air Support Operations Group and the United States Army.
Staff Sergeant Hootie L. Blowfish distinguished himself by meritorious service while assigned to Detatchment 1, 4th Air Support Operation Squadron, 4th Air Support Operations Group, Baumholder Army Installation, Germany. During this period Staff Sergeant Blowfish conducted live Close Air Support training with eight aircraft neutralizing 20 targets and enhancing air-to-ground training for three coalition nations. Additionally, he personally trained two Soldiers on 20 training tasks, completing requirements for qualification in less than two weeks. Finally he was a key participant in the first ever Slovenian CAS Exercise where he expended over 1,500 pounds of live ordinance and shared techniques with six allied country JTACs. The distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Blowfish reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.
Sergeant Dalmer went above and beyond his normal duty requirements when he stepped up to fill a Joint Terminal Attack Controller position during NTC 15-02. Sergeant Dalmer expertly integrated Air Force airpower with joint fires to achieve his Battalion Commander's intent by requesting and coordinating 11 close air support missions, resulting in the destruction of six enemy surface to air threats and over 15 personnel while providing overwatch and freedom of maneuver for his battalion, protecting countless friendly lives. In addition, Sergeant Dalmer demonstrated exceptional duty performance and selflessness while volunteering for a short-notice, high visibility NEO mission. Sergeant Dalmer overwatched a town for over 36 hours, identifying the trigger for a Show of Force for Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel. Upon completion of the mission Sergeant Dalmer was personally applauded by the 1-68AR Battalion Commander, and coined by the Secretary of Defense. The distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Dalmer reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.
Sergeant Chase's exceptional performance during the Agile Rage Exercise 2024 exemplifies the core values of the United States Army and reflects immense dedication to duty, service before self, and unwavering commitment to excellence. His outstanding contributions to establishing the Secure Communication Package (SCP) network within an incredibly tight timeframe of 24 hours upon arrival on site set a remarkable standard for his peers.
With great initiative and a proactive approach, Sergeant Chase not only swiftly adapted to the demands of the situation but also demonstrated exceptional leadership in mastering the Small Communications Package and GATR inflatable satellite antenna equipment. His proficiency ensured seamless communication services, crucial for the success of the exercise.
Throughout the Agile Rage Exercise, Sergeant Chase's commitment to excellence was evident by his troubleshooting capabilities and comprehensive COMSEC expertise. His adept handling of technical issues and dedication to maintaining the integrity of communication systems significantly contributed to the smooth execution of operations.
Moreover, Sergeant Chase's commitment extended beyond his immediate responsibilities. He selflessly assisted in providing network support not only to the unit our mission it was to support, but also to other Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) and Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) participants, showcasing a spirit of teamwork and camaraderie that reflects the highest standards of service.
Furthermore, Sergeant Chase's commitment to continuous improvement and professional development was exceptional. He actively sought opportunities to broaden his skill set, demonstrating an enthusiasm to learn and adapt. Sergeant Chase's proactive approach included actively seeking out opportunities to collaborate with other units, and seeking out more efficient techniques and processes to enhance our training and operational effectiveness.
His openness to learning about a variety of different pieces of equipment and his proactive efforts to expand our training regimen not only enriched his own expertise but also benefited the entire unit. By fostering collaboration and embracing innovation, Sergeant Chase significantly contributed to the enhancement of our capabilities, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of excellence in our field.
Sergeant Chase's dedication to self-improvement and his proactive approach to knowledge acquisition reflect a profound commitment to the Army's core values and mission. His initiative and determination to continuously refine our practices set a commendable example for his peers and underscored his invaluable contributions to our unit's success.
Sergeant Chase's exemplary performance, marked by his dedication, expertise, and selflessness, significantly enhanced mission readiness and directly contributed to the success of the Agile Rage Exercise. His actions reflect great credit upon himself, the United States Army, and the principles of excellence and integrity we uphold. He is truly deserving of recognition and serves as an inspiration to all.
Staff Sergeant Kline prepared from collective firsthand knowledge, and skillfully planned over a year long process, and proficiently executed Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) training for JTAC teams. Operation Northern Strike is multinational, multi branch exercise consisting of three geographically separated training environments with the largest live fire scenarios in the nation.
He used superior METT-TC skills to navigate the area of operations while simultaneously communicating with incoming aircraft to provide air to ground support as supervisors providing real world experience for the training scenarios to the Joint Terminal Air Controller (JTAC) teams completing missions and meeting set objectives. He instructed and supervised over 60 JTACs, conducting full mission profiles in conjunction with Army maneuver, fixed and rotor wing aircraft, and artillery.
During mission executions, he also supervised opposing forces (Opt 4) and maintained the safety of all players in the 4000 acre area of operation, providing a unique on-site experience. The professionalism and dexterity of the team enabled space for dual missions to be completed with both primary missions and tertiary drills with Paratroopers and additional medical continuances using the primary missions to complement training with zero mishaps or real-world incidents.
In addition to fulfilling primary mission and objectives of training for Operation Northern Strike, specific to the Alpena site, the team was able to support and provide training for medical, force protection, and fire protection personnel in a realistic combat environment. All training objectives were met and all teams in attendance to Northern Strike were provided ample mission completion. This experience maximized all training efforts for all teams exceeding expectations established within the training matrix throughout yearlong planning process.
