EOD1 Kevin R. Bewley

James R. McDonough sets a spectacular example of what it is to be a second lieutenant in the United States Army and what it is truly like to lead a group of enlisted soldiers for the first time. Lieutenant McDonough, a graduate of West Point, was deployed as a platoon leader in a small fort with the mission of holding a Vietnamese village out of the hands of the Viet Cong. When he arrived, Lieutenant McDonough discovered that the former Lieutenant and platoon leader of the 2d Platoon, Bravo Company, 4th Battalion, 503d Infantry (Airborne) hardly ever left his

Within a few months of reporting onboard, he completed seven qualifications well ahead of schedule including earning his Enlisted Information Dominance Warfare Specialist qualification. His motivation to complete Personnel Qualification Standards outside of his rate resulted in improved watch bill flexibility for the command and increased job knowledge.

In the Vietnam War, Specialist Fourth Class John Baca not only led his team to a firing position, but also risked his life to save his team. Baca was behind his team when a grenade was thrown into the air. When it landed, he capped the fragmentation grenade with his helmet and jumped on top of it, completely disregarding his own safety. Also in the Vietnam War, Specialist Fifth Class Clarence Sasser crawled through a field of explosions and smoke to save his men. Specialist Sasser assisted one soldier to safety and was shot in the shoulder by pieces of an exploding rocket. Even after sustaining painful injuries, Specialist Sasser drug himself through the bloody battlefield to continue saving any wounded soldier he could. Both Specialist Fourth Class Baca and Specialist Fifth Class Sasser were presented with the Medal of Honor posthumously. In addition to these Medal of Honor recipient’s, the Medal of Honor has been awarded over 3,400 times by the President of the

SFC Weems has served the Kansas Army National Guard in multiple positions of importance. From 1994 to 2001 SFC Weems served with HHC 1-108th AVN BN as a Supply Clerk; from 2001 to 2005 with HQ 235th Regt as Supply NCO; 2005 to 2009 with 1-235th Regt as OCS Company Training NCO; 2009 to 2012 with DET 1 Recruiting

The 120th Engineer Battalion consists of 8 companies with an assigned strength of 725 Soldiers. He currently oversees more than 20 active construction and improvement projects at Camp Gruber, Broken Arrow and Muskogee Armed Forces Reserve Centers and throughout the State of Oklahoma. LTC Ostervold’s leadership and dedication is unwavering. He personally developed and mentored subordinates within his span of control to improve on all soldier and engineering requirements. During his short time as the Battalion Commander, LTC Ostervold has been able to increase the retention of quality engineer soldiers through realistic and meaningful Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) training. LTC Ostervold has increased the overall strength of the Battalion by over 6% (42 Soldiers) by aggressively recruiting Soldiers that have a passion to serve their country in the Oklahoma National Guard and learn a valuable skill set as an Army

Master Sergeant Jeffrey J. Baker distinguished himself throughout a 25-year career through exceptionally meritorious service in a succession of positions of great responsibility to the Army and to the nation. Previous leadership positions of significant achievement include Human Resources Operations Branch (HROB) NCOIC, 82d Sustainment Brigade, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Advanced Individual Training (AIT) Series Chief and Headquarters/Alpha (HQ/A) Company First Sergeant, Fort Jackson, South Carolina. MSG Baker's career culminated as the First Sergeant of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), 369th Adjutant General Battalion, U.S Army Soldier Support Institute (USASSI), Fort Jackson, South

Petty officer Gray has distinguished himself in the performance of his duities and is most deserving of his first Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for actions during the period from July 2013 to 2015, while assigned to U.S. Naval Construction Battalion One as an Equipment Operator, and Dispatcher. Petty Officer Gray quickly earned the respect and admiration of both his superior and subordinates with his eargerness to qualify on all required licensing for command tasking ahead of schedule in order to assume greater responsibilitys which greatly benefitted and supported command mission. He attained excellent rating knowledge, sound leadership abilities, and exceptionally strong work ethics. He has without doubt provided professionalism

Quickly, I make my way to the waiting Blackhawk helicopter. Even with my full combat load strapped to my back the rotor wash threatens to push me over. My face is pelted with grass and other debris; motivation and determination makes me run harder. As I reach the Blackhawk the Black-shirt directs me to one of four repel lines anchored to the aircraft. I wrap the line through my d-ring and climb into the cabin. I wait, crouched in the doorway, for my three other comrades to finish their hookup. The Black-shirt completes his check of our hookups and gives the pilot the thumbs-up. Abruptly, the helicopter lifts into the air leaving my stomach somewhere below.

In Army National Guard, Kurt has a lot of training and obstacles. Kurt is a staff sergeant E6, as of August 2009, in the United States National Guard. He trained for 12 weeks at Fort Benning beginning on June 6, 2008, to do route clearance, one of the most dangerous jobs, in Eragon, Afghanistan, the most dangerous place during the war, in 2013 in a place called RC South, the base camp. He was stationed there for ten and a half months. What route clearance

SPC Aaron J. Stone has served as a M2A3 Bradley gunner with Bravo Company, 1ST Engineer Battalion, 1ST Infantry Division. SPC Stone has served the Army for 19 months. From August to November of 2015 SPC Stone participated in OPNET-Gunnery, January of 2016 SPC Stone went to gunnery again as a driver and the crew shot distinguished. In May of 2016 SPC Stone participated in the Devil Focus field exercise. In June of 2016 SPC Stone shot gunnery as a gunner. SPC Stone participated in the N.T.C rotation. A native of Portland, Oregon and graduated from Milwaukie High School. SPC Stone’s short term goal is to score a 300 his next APFT. SPC Stone’s long term goal is to go to Airborne school and PCS to Fort

CW3 (Retired) Marc Brydges (Chief) joined the Army in 1994 as an 11M Mechanized Infantryman. He served in Kosovo and Bosnia and he drove Bradley Fighting Vehicles until the Army said he couldn’t anymore.

TSC Ansbach. . 4-3 Assault Helicopter Battalion, OAR Aviation Rotational unit Warrior leaders training at the Oberdachstetten Range Complex (18 Oct 15). ACTOs are Mr. Viegas and Mr. Buerkel. The 4-3 AHB, aviation rotational unit conducted Warrior leaders training at the Oberdachstetten Range complex. The unit conducted advance weapons training event shooting from multiple positions, facades, stress fire, and normal weapons qualification at ranges Combat Pistol Qualification course, 5a, b, and

Lieutenant Dore served as the Officer-In-Charge during the execution of the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge (GAFPB) qualificati ion from 1 through 5 Feb 2016. He successfully qualified 132 Soldiers through the flawless planning and execution of the GAFPB vigorous training schedules, briefings and logistics. Additionally, Lieutenant Dore effectively implemented the Army's Composite Risk Management as a result, no Soldiers experience a severe accident or injury during the training event thereby, earning an overall 90% qualification rate.

SSG Miller enlisted into the United States Army on April 20, 2006. He became a Patriot Fire Control Enhanced Operator/Maintainer. Upon completion of Advanced Individual Training he then deployed less than 1 month as a Force OPS Crew Member with C 3/43 ADA. He then certified on the AMG basic and intermediate gunnery certification. He then was able to complete advance gunnery tables in Qatar on the AMG.

MSG McKinney’s strong character embodied the Army Values. Though he had over 20 years in the Army, possessed a body badly worn from years of tough assignments, and his wife was vocal in her insistence for him to retire, his loyalty and sense of duty would not allow him to retire. I did not see this in MSG McKinney on the first day I reported to him in January 2009 at his Analysis and Control Element (ACE), but ever since that day as our professional and personnel bonds grew I realized he held a strong respect for the profession and that selfless service drove him. Furthermore, I admired his personal courage. No one I knew had more deployed months when I met him, yet we would deploy twice to