741st first sergeant receives Bronze Star

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kristina Overton
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  A 741st Missile Security Forces Squadron first sergeant received the Bronze Star Medal at the Air Force Space Command commander's all-call Nov. 12 at the 3-Bay Hangar.

Master Sgt. Fiafia Seau was presented the medal by Gen. C. Robert Kehler, AFSPC commander, for his meritorious service as Det. 3, 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron first sergeant in Baghdad, Iraq, from Sept. 8, 2008 to Sept. 3, 2009.

During this period, Sergeant Seau provided exceptional leadership for 172 Airmen and Soldiers engaged in combat operations on the hostile streets of Baghdad in support of the Multi-National Forces-Iraq, Police Transition Team mission.

Sergeant Seau was the first-ever Air Force first sergeant to be selected for a 365-day deployment in either Iraq or Afghanistan.

"It's an honor to serve as a first sergeant on a Police Transition Team mission training Iraqi police and conducting outside-the-wire missions," said Sergeant Seau. "It's a very rare occurrence having a first sergeant in that position, but there's nothing like being alongside your fellow Airmen on missions and taking care of them in a deployed environment."

Sergeant Seau established vital communication links with 53 home-station first sergeants and resolved dozens of sensitive personnel issues. This allowed Airmen and Soldiers to remain focused on the unit's dangerous mission.

He completed 34 missions alongside his fellow Airmen and Soldiers, and through his efforts enabled the unit to successfully conduct 1,974 combat patrols that traveled 64,110 miles through Baghdad. He also trained, coached, and mentored more than 4,000 Iraqi Police performing law enforcement and security operations for 2.1 million Iraqi citizens.

"It's great to know there are combat tested and combat ready first sergeants willing to go outside-the-wire for their airmen," said Captain Richard Zeigler, 741st MSFS security forces officer.

"What Sergeant Seau has accomplished is truly an amazing feat," said Captain Zeigler. "It says a lot about where Security Forces and the Air Force is going and it reflects what people have already known and seen in him. He is an awesome first sergeant."