Pavements & Construction Equipment Citations
Technical Sergeant kyle L. Otsuka distinguished himself by outstanding achievement while serving as NCOIC, Pavements and Construction Equipment, 31st Civil Engineer Squadron, 31st Mission Support Group, 31st Fighter Wing, Aviano Air Base, Italy from XXXXXXXXXX to XXXXXXXXXX. During this period, Sergeant Otsuka deployed for 180 days to Al Udied Air Base where he led crane operations to change out a 57,000 pound fuel cell weekly for the sole Preditor refueling point. In addition, while deployed he repaired an aircraft arresting barrier system which saved a fully loaded F-16 less than 36 hours later, preventing damage to the 26 million dollar aircraft. Further, he was the Non-Commissioned Officer in charge of Horizontal repair for Operations ODESSEY DAWN and UNIFIED PROTECTOR, routing and sealing cracks on major taxiways, and enabling 145 successful combat sorties. Finally, he renovated three mothballed facilities to provide housing for 1,300 coalition forces and constructed 23 small shelters to protect their equipment. The distinctive accomplishments of Technical Sergeant Otsuka reflect credit upon himself, the 31st Civil Engineer Squadron and the United States Air Force.
Senior Airman Vincent D. Colmes distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Pavements and Construction Equipment Journeyman, 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squdron, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, Qatar, from XXXXXXXXXX to XXXXXXXXXX. During this period, he deployed in support of Operations IRAQI and ENDURING FREEDOM, NEW DAWN, and Combined Joint Task Force HORN OF AFRICA where he helped install two 38-foot dish antennas. This expanded system increased the ability to track personnel and aircraft from 50 percent of the globe's surface to 95 percent. Additionally, he participated in the construction of a two and one half mile running track for the Coalition Compound. He led the removal and relocation of 150,000 tons of earth which led to the expedient completion of the project and provided the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing a safe exercise area for both permanent and transit personnel. Finally, he used his off-duty time to teach himself how to use the Squadron's Integrated Work Information Management System which allowed him to manage over 200,000 dollars in vital horizontal materials and supplies. The distinctive accomplishments of Senior Airman Colmes reflect credit upon himself, the 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squdron, and the United States Air Force.
Senior Airman Christian F. Bagtas distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Pavements and Equipment Journeyman, 321st Operations Support Squadron, 321st Air Expeditionary Advisory Group, 321st Air Expeditionary Wing, Kirkuk Regional Air Base, Iraq, from XXXXXXXXXX to XXXXXXXXXX. During this period, in support of Operation NEW DAWN, Airman Bagtas served as primary sweeper operator, maintaining two active runways and seven million square feet of airfield. In this effort, he loaded and hauled over 2,000 tons of debris, mitigating hazards to aircraft operations, enabling rubber removal and restriping of 70,000 square feet of runway and taxiway, critical to aircraft movement and over six thousand sorties. In addition, Airman Bagtas served as Vehicle Control Officer for the flight, managing a fleet of 23 vehicles and an inventory worth over two million dollars, resulting in an astonishing 97 percent operational vehicle readiness rate. Finally, Airman Bagtas played a key role in the drawdown of War Readiness Materials. Acting on demanding and inflexible deadlines, he maintained and redeployed 254 assets worth over three million dollars and vastly improved Wing efforts towards mission completion. The distinctive accomplishments of Senior Airman Bagtas reflect great credit upon himself, the 321st Operations Support Squadron and the United States Air Force.