Chief warrant officer killed in Afghanistan was on 7th deployment
A decorated soldier killed earlier this week in Afghanistan was on his seventh deployment of his 19-year career.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Michael S. Duskin, 42, of Orange Park, Fla., died Tuesday from wounds sustained in Wardak province.
Duskin, a member of Company A, 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, was on a dismounted patrol when his unit came under small-arms fire.
He is survived by his wife, three children, sister and parents, according to Special Forces Command.
An assistant detachment commander, Duskin was on his fifth tour in Afghanistan and seventh overall deployment.
He had been assigned to Fort Bragg's since 2001, serving in the 3rd Special Forces Group and the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, according to a release.
Duskin's Army career began in 1993, when he enlisted as a forward observer.
Following his initial training, he served with the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment for three years before joining the Florida National Guard, according to officials.
As a Guardsman, Duskin attended Special Forces Assessment and Selection at Fort Bragg and graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course in 1998.
Duskin first served as an engineer sergeant assigned to 3rd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group, which is comprised of National Guard soldiers.
He was mobilized to active duty in 2001 and deployed with 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group for more than five years, deploying five times, before becoming a Special Forces instructor at Fort Bragg.
As an instructor, Duskin attended the Special Forces Warrant Officer Technical and Tactical Certification Course, graduating in May 2010.
He then joined the 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group. This was his second deployment to Afghanistan with that unit.
Duskin's military awards and decorations include three Bronze Star Medals, including one that was awarded posthumously, two Meritorious Service Medals, a Purple Heart, the Joint Commendation Medal, three Army Commendation Medals, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, two National Defense Service Medals, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (2), the Army Service Ribbon, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Basic Parachutist Badge, and the Special Forces Tab.
Distributed by MCT Information Services
