Bronze Stars for Five Airmen: The Air Force has awarded Bronze Star Medals to five airmen for their efforts while deployed to support operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. They are:
n Capt. James D. Couch, a security forces specialist assigned to the 349th Recruitment Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla., received his medal for his work in training Iraqi National Police, serving as national police training coordinator, and helping to establish training camps—work that entailed conducting more than 30 combat missions to outlying sites and operating within a Baghdad hot zone. (Tinker release)
n TSgt. Timothy Bayes, 782nd Training Group Det. 6, Gulfport, Miss., served in Afghanistan as part of a provincial reconstruction team (PRT), making more than 190 convoys and marching through villages and fields under threat from improvised explosive devices and enemy forces. Both he and Snider below accomplished more than their required tasks. (82nd Training Wing release)
n TSgt. Brendan Brown, 87th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Flight, McGuire AFB, N.J., served as an EOD team leader in Baghdad, Iraq, where his team faced 43 emergency situations and destroyed more than 700 pounds of explosives, hundreds of IED components, and more than 3,000 ordnance items. (McGuire photo release)
n TSgt. Wendell Snider, 782nd TRG Det. 6, like his fellow instructor Bayes, served in Afghanistan with a PRT, risking the same life-threatening conditions to help Afghan civilians with power, agriculture, and economy issues. (see 82nd TRW release above)
n SSgt. Peter Arbelo, 87th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight, McGuire AFB, N.J., served as an EOD team leader in Baghdad, Iraq, where his team carried out more than 51 combat missions critical to counter-insurgency operations. (McGuire photo release)