Commentary - It takes Airmen from every specialty to get job done

News > Commentary - It takes Airmen from every specialty to get job done

It takes Airmen from every specialty to get job done

Posted 4/25/2012

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Commentary by Lt. Gen. David Goldfein
Commander, U.S. Air Forces Central Command

4/25/2012 - SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFNS) -- Recently, two of our U.S. Air Forces Central Command Airmen were criticized
online by other Airmen for receiving Bronze Star decorations after completion of their
deployments to Afghanistan.

I'd like to take this opportunity to explain the rigorous awards board process and emphasize the meticulous manner in which we ensure each award is justifiable and each recipient is worthy.

We recognize and honor our Airmen for their meritorious and heroic actions.

My AFCENT staff oversees a thorough awards approval process to ensure medals
are presented to only the most commendable candidates. This 20-year
decoration process has a demonstrated history of consistency, and we work
hard to maintain its integrity.

Led by a general officer, the board of combat-experienced colonels and chief master sergeants carefully and deliberately guarantee our Airmen deserve the awards they receive.

I am the final approving authority for each medal.

Every day, our innovative Airmen excel in the deployed environment.

Consider the security forces Airman who helped protect his base from more than 2,500
disgruntled Afghan citizens. He stood his ground, despite suffering detached
retinas, body bruises from thrown rocks and face wounds from high-powered
pellet rifles.

Or the KC-135 maintainer who worked in minus-20-degree temperatures to
extend the range and flexibility of our combat aircraft, which provide close
air support to protect coalition ground forces battling insurgents.

Or the finance officer who worked alongside special operations forces. She
executed $160 million in operational funds across eight remote forward
operating bases in support of counterinsurgency operations.

Or the combat controller who faced enemy fire and placed himself at grave risk on four
occasions while controlling more than 30 aircraft and more than 40 airstrikes.

These are just a few examples of achievements that we reward in AFCENT.

No one Air Force specialty code is any more important than the next in this
theater -- it takes the entire team working together to get the job done.

Airmen like Tech. Sgt. Christina Gamez and Tech Sgt. Sharma Haynes are the
bedrock of our organization.

While we face a determined enemy, he is no match for this combined arms
team. Together, with laser-like focus on our mission, with the knowledge
that no challenge we may face is too much for innovative Airmen, and
knowing that our cause is just ... we will continue to deliver decisive
airpower for CENTCOM and America.

Comments

5/8/2012 12:15:04 PM ET
General With all due respect the fact that a finance officer worked with 160 million in requisitions is impressive blows my mind. I work on ac that cost more than that every single day and when we deploy we work 12-16 hour days to get the job done every day. No days off. We do it because of the love and respect for the aircraft and the people that we support and carry on our aircraft. We care more about getting the respect of our senior pro supers than we do about getting a medal but when push comes to shove no we don't walk away from the AOR with a bronze medal and honestly we don't think we should. We did our jobs to the best of our ability and seeing the SOF guys come back is our version of a successful mission. A bronze star should be for someone going above and beyond what they are supposed to do in their job not just doing their job. Maybe she worked in a SOF unit but there's no way the finance officer was running around a war zone getting shot at and having to worry

SOAMXS, Hurlburt Field FL

5/7/2012 1:01:50 PM ET
LtCol KPW, I believe the issue here is consistency some whining but not as intense as you suggest. Decos are recognition and when executed properly we should adequately recognize the contributions of all. Sadly, under recognition tends to get less attention than over. A cornerstone of all PME teaches adequate and effective use of awards and recognition programs. When over or under used it speaks to a problem. Another useful tool is feedback and when you reduce to name-calling or telling people they whine you've devalued feedback. Take these matters at face value no one is here to get medals but a fair recognition induces pride and morale. Finally the perception of inequality is as good as inequality of itself. If we are consistent as leaders this wouldn't be an issue.

Ret Col, PA

5/7/2012 8:43:51 AM ET
If you're in the AF for the medals you're doing it for the wrong reason. If someone's commander decides to put them in for a decoration what is that to you? That commander gets to make that decision and stand the scrutiny and all this attacking of the recepients is whining and unprofessional. Focus on what you're doing and don't worry about what someone else is getting for what they're doing or not doing. If you're in the AF for the medals you need to examine why you're in at all.

KPW Lt Col USAF, Pentagon

5/3/2012 11:27:04 PM ET
GeneralWith all due respect I believe that the underlying issue of this is the disparity between the citations of the awards and what is perceived as an every day performance. That same KC-135 Maintainer that works in the sub-zero temperature or the blistering 110 degree heat That is just another day on the job. The average Maintainer that read the citations for the awards most likely thought huh that sounds about normal what's the big deal The Aircraft Maintainer works wonders makes miracles happen and we high five and go on about our job. The real frustration comes into play when we have to deal with the extra hurdles placed in our path by the Airmen that were just awarded a Bronze Star. At that fabulous undisclosed location in SW Asia it was overheard on the bus coming back into the old Compound The reason we have Tankers here is so we have fuel to run the generators. What kind of Air Force do we live in that at a deployed location the people furthest f

A Retired Hydro Guy, Eastern Montana

5/3/2012 12:17:34 PM ET
Sir, I was a JET Airman assigned to a joint task force. I was able to use my one-of-a-kind skillset to directly save lives from IEDs. I went all over the country and outside the wire. I was given responsibility MUCH higher than my rank. But no one on the AF side even knew I was there except EOD companies. I didn't do it for a medal and don't care about that. However, with a higher dec I may not have been RIFed -- I could have gone back go do it again.

Former 61C, USA

5/3/2012 11:58:31 AM ET
Yes, it does take everyone to accomplish the mission, just like a sports team. When a sport team wins a championship, every player gets a ring and 1 MVP gets an award. I see the Bronze Star as the ring when applying it to this article and of course not all Airmen are getting one.

MSgt, CONUS

5/1/2012 11:37:22 PM ET
PB, well said, but it appears that haters just got to hate.

BS, KS

5/1/2012 11:23:17 AM ET
Why is the matter of who got which medal even an issue in the grand scheme of things Family members just want their husbands wives sons and daughters to come back home in one piece. Everything else is gravy.

PB, US

4/30/2012 11:57:56 AM ET
There isn't a person here who hasn't heard the ever-popular, "Well that medal is for insertrankhere." In light of that, your admonishment rings more than slightly hollow. And to say that TSgt Gomez worked alongside Special Operations Forces? Gimme a break. Following that logic, so did the TCN who cleans the bathroom. I don't doubt for an instant that your staff work diligently to ensure that the awards that reach your desk are deserving. However, it's a LONG journey from my FOB to your desk. Ignoring that reality and trying to draw a parallel between a finance specialist and a CCT putting warheads on foreheads while under fire merely highlights your disconnect.

David, Washington DC

4/27/2012 10:57:29 AM ET
@Major Outside...you are spot on Neither of my past two deployments were rewarded with a medal although I was a quiet professional working inside and outside the wire. When I made the mistake of asking if inputs were needed during my second deployment for a potential medal I was given the song and dance that they could only award a center number and thanks for your service. Respectfully both were in AFCENT's AOR and plenty of others were in my same boat. Not whining just stating the facts.

Typical Guy, Everywhere

4/27/2012 10:40:16 AM ET
Everyone is special.

Caveman, Bedrock

4/27/2012 9:09:13 AM ET
General Goldfein I really appreciate you defending the hard working people in the staff and receieving ends of the deco process. But I've seen this process fail first hand. My NCOIC in OIF served 154 missions OTW in convoys and security ops serving a JET tasking. He helped to physically subdue a man during a bomb hoax IVO several hundred civilians. When I submitted his BSM my chain said it wasn't rank appropriate not action rank. He recieved an ARCOM as did I after the channels you mention downgraded my MSM nomination despite the same number of OTW missions hands on security ops and integrationleadership efforts. I don't believe the BSM is equitable to an MSM but either way there's not the consistency you speak of. I wear my ARCOM very proudly we've devalued the BSM in practice. You have a very hard job and a hard position to defend I just wish more people acknowledged the exceptions when they talk about the strength of the process.

Maj Execption to the Rule, CO

4/26/2012 2:30:46 PM ET
God bless you, General Goldfein, for your support of staff members and all airmen in our great United States Air Force. Keep up the good work

Debbie Poertner, Midland TX

4/26/2012 2:27:57 PM ET
Excellent article, Sir. I was in Iraq last year and was amazed at the sheer amount of people on my base. I think people tend to forget that dangers in and of themselves were always present even members that regularly stayed on base were always at risk from mortar attacks or even worse getting shot by insurgents and infiltrators. I think the perception that people who deploy to fly a desk, as was the popular negative refrain in the articles which you speak of, is rather disingenuous. These people who run the personnel section or finance section or the comm networks or the chow halls or the POL dump or the CE section...the list goes on and on...who may otherwise never have occasion to go outside the wire MAKE such efforts possible. I am also reminded of a famous anecdote involving Gen Patton wherein he awarded one of his 3d Army Chaplains a BSM for a prayer for good weather. Certainly honoring support personnel for their behind the scenes roles in supporting combat operat

Observer, Undisclosed

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