Theater Civil Military Support Element (TCMSE) LNO
- CPT Ramirez's exceptional leadership and operational knowledge were instrumental in bridging Civil Affairs Operations (CAO) for the Theater Civil Military Support Element (TCMSE), six Civil Affairs Support Elements (CMSE), and two Civil Military Affairs Liaison Officers across twelve countries, directly supporting Special Operations Command South's (SOCSOUTH) targeting efforts. His efforts significantly enhanced SOCSOUTH's capacity to leverage CA capabilities, contributing to the success of operations throughout the region.
- As the TCMSE Liaison Officer (LNO), CPT Ramirez played a pivotal role in consolidating and disseminating critical Civil Affairs information across SOCSOUTH. He established a centralized digital repository for all Civil Affairs reports, directly enabling sections including the J5, J2 (JISE, HUMINT), SOFD, and targeting cells to address critical information gaps throughout the Area of Responsibility (AOR). Through close collaboration with these SOCSOUTH sections, CPT Ramirez also provided forward-deployed teams with targeted Requests for Information (RFIs), enhancing their engagement strategies. Reports distributed totaled over 300x, including SITREPS, OPSUMS, Assessments, Storyboards, Baseball cards, and IIRs.
- CPT Ramirez implemented CAO into SOCSOUTH's target development process. Notably, CPT Ramirez was the lead in the development of one of SOCSOUTH's top 3 entities of interest. Together with the TCMSE and CMSE's forward deployed, CPT Ramirez consolidated 10 CA reports and broke-down 23 open-source reports to generate statistical analysis which enabled the Joint Fire Effects Officer In-Charge's decision to increase or decrease SOF resources.
- CPT Ramirez's exceptional initiative, cross-country competence, and adaptability was key in enabling operations that achieve SOCSOUTH Objectives. His efforts were instrumental in advancing key U.S. objectives in the SOUTHCOM AOR, specifically civil-security partnerships, expanding humanitarian outreach, and enabling safe and effective multinational and inter-agency operations.
Media Engagement Lead
FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT WHILE SERVING AS THE LEAD FOR A MEDIA ENGAGEMENT CONDUCTED ON 17 AUGUST 2013. CDR HARTFORD SUCCESSFULLY PLANNED, COORDINATED, AND EXECUTED THE MOVEMENT AND SECURITY OF KAREN DECKER, THE SENIOR CIVILIAN REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE COALITION'S REGIONAL COMMAND-EAST, DURING A MEDIA ENGAGEMENT WITH GHAZNI PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR MUSA KHAN. CDR HARTFORD'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE IN KEEPING WITH THE FINEST TRADITIONS OF THE MILITARY AND REFLECTS GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF, TASK FORCE WHITE EAGLE, CJTF-101 AND THE UNITED STATES ARMY.
Project Purchasing Officer/PRT Uruzgan
For meritorious service as Project Purchasing Officer. Captain Rangel filled this mission critical position on arrival in theater and took ownership of the AOR consisting of 63 villages west of Tarin Kowt. His ability to plan, execute, supervise and report on multiple Commander Emergency Response Program (CERP) projects simultaneously was instrumental in the success of the Civil Affairs Team. He participated in over 70 Key Leader Engagements with various Afghan Nationals and influential GIRoA officials and positively impacted the stability in Uruzgan Province and contributed to the success of the PRT and strengthened GIRoA.
Captain Rangel conducted over 60 missions in one of the most volatile and unforgiving regions of Afghanistan. His keen tactical awareness and ability to effectively train/mentor over 100 Afghan Nationals, to include the Afghan National Police (ANP), National Directorate of Security (NDS) Investigators, and Criminal Prosecutors on police techniques is a primary contributing factor to the increased confidence of the ANP with Afghan nationals.
Captain Rangel was selected as the Rule of Law military lead for the Regional South Stability Assessment (RSSA) Team. His Team Leader efforts were a primary factor in formulating a strategy for future operations in Uruzgan.
Action Officer
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN THE SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE OF HER DUTIES WHILE SERVING AS ACTION OFFICER FOR EXERCISE EAGER LION 2019 FOR 1ST CIVIL AFFAIRS GROUP, FORCE HEADQUARTERS GROUP, MARINE FORCES RESERVE FROM 10 JANUARY 2019 TO 22 SEPTEMBER 2019. CAPTAIN HITE DISTINGUISHED HERSELF THROUGH SUPERB CONTRIBUTIONS MADE DURING THE PLANNING AND EXECUTION OF A HIGHLY COMPLEX, JOINT MULTINATIONAL EXERCISE IN THE KINGDOM OF JORDAN. CAPTAIN HITE REPRESENTED THE COMMAND AT THE MID-PLANNING CONFERENCE IN AMMAN, WHERE SHE DEVELOPED THE JOINT MISSION ESSENTIAL TASK LIST FOR THE CIVIL AFFAIRS COMPONENT OF THE EXERCISE AND MADE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE EXERCISE SCENARIO AND SCRIPTED INJECTS. WHILE SUCCESSFULLY INTEGRATING WITH THE UNITED STATES ARMY AND BELGIAN CIVIL AFFAIRS PERSONNEL WITHIN THE COMBINED JOINT TASK FORCE HEADQUARTERS, SHE COORDINATED ALL NON-LETHAL FIRES FOR THE CJ34 FIRES DIRECTORATE. HER EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE WAS NOTED BY BOTH THE SUPPORTED U.S. ARMY COMMAND AND COALITION PARTNERS. CAPTAIN HITE'S INITIATIVE, EXPERTISE, LOYALTY, AND DEDICATION TO DUTY REFLECTED GREAT CREDIT UPON HER AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
Civil Affairs Officer
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN THE SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE OF HER DUTIES WHILE SERVING AS A CIVIL AFFAIRS OFFICER WITH 1ST CIVIL AFFAIRS GROUP, FORCE HEADQUARTERS GROUP, MARINE FORCES RESERVE FROM JULY 2015 TO APRIL 2019. THROUGHOUT THIS PERIOD, CAPTAIN VALERIE SERVED WITH DISTINCTION IN BILLETS OF INCREASING DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITY. AS A TEAM LEADER IN DETACHMENTS 1 AND 2, AND FINALLY AS THE ASSISTANT DETACHMENT COMMANDER FOR DETACHMENT 3, SHE LED HER MARINES WITH NOTEWORTHY SKILL AND ASSISTED IN THE PLANNING AND EXECUTION OF TRAINING THROUGHOUT OVER 40 DRILL PERIODS AND 12 FIELD EXERCISES. FURTHER, SHE DISTINGUISHED HERSELF DURING MULTIPLE EXERCISES INCLUDING EXERCISE STEEL KNIGHT 2017, DAWN BLITZ 2018, AND THE JOINT MULTINATIONAL EXERCISE EAGER LION IN THE KINGDOM OF JORDAN IN 2019. AUGMENTING THE OPERATIONS STAFF FOR TASK FORCE 51/5, SHE LEVERAGED HER CIVIL AFFAIRS SKILLS TO ADVANCE THE INTENT AND OBJECTIVES OF THE SUPPORTED COMMANDER TO GREAT EFFECT AND DIRECTLY IMPROVED THE OPERATIONAL READINESS OF THE UNIT. CAPTAIN VALERIE'S INITIATIVE, LEADERSHIP, AND EXPERTISE REFLECTED GREAT CREDIT UPON HER AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
