Malmstrom NCO awarded Bronze Star

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Dillon White
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont., --  A noncommissioned officer from the 341st Security Forces Squadron received the Bronze Star during a commander's call at the base auditorium Feb. 24 for exceptionally meritorious service Oct 14, 2007, to May 1, 2008, during Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

Tech. Sgt. Kevin Akers received the award from Maj. Gen. Roger Burg, 20th Air Force commander. 

"It's hard to describe the feeling of being awarded the Bronze Star," Sergeant Akers said. "I'm not the type of man that likes to brag or flash my accomplishments because of all the great things men and women around the globe are doing day-in and day-out, although it feels great." 

During his deployment, the squad leader from the 887th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, Multi-National Force Iraq, was in charge of 14 security forces Airmen, one medic and one Iraqi interpreter which formed a combat patrol element. The squad rode in six tactical vehicles valued at $1.8 million that Sergeant Akers was responsible for. 

The element conducted more than 120 combat patrols lasting more than 1,200 hours outside the wire providing area security for more than 5,000 coalition forces and 20,000 detainees at Camp Bucca, Iraq. 

The squad performed missions with varying schedules over terrain marked by 150 to 250 foot deep abandoned wells, sometimes with limited rest in weather ranging from hot and humid to cold, raining and fog. 

"Some days we would go out [on missions] at set times but for the most part, it would rotate to prevent displaying patterns to the enemy," Sergeant Akers said. "There were times my squad would come back in from a 16-hour mission and turn around an hour later and head back out for 16 to 18 more hours ... Thank AAFES for the energy drinks." 

During one particular patrol, Sergeant Akers' squad came less than 10 feet from an exploding improvised explosive device. 

The 16-person element was conducting a routine patrol mission Jan. 5 when Sergeant Akers noticed what appeared to be a rock off the side of the road. 

"It was completely flat on one side, sending up a flag in my mind," Sergeant Akers said. "By the time I noticed it and got my vehicle driver stopped it was about six feet in front of our vehicle and eight feet off the road. Before he could place the HUMVEE in reverse, it detonated." 

The main projectile missed the vehicle and no one under Sergeant Akers' command suffered injuries, however the shock and shrapnel rocked the squad, he said. 

"It was a sobering experience, but not the first time I had been hit with an IED during this tour," Sergeant Akers said. "It almost feels as if you're in the movies and five seconds seems like a life time. Slow motion! Then you come out of it and realize in that short time, you've sent up your situation report, swept for [secondary threats], established cordons and set up a hasty helo landing zone for incoming [explosive ordnance disposal] teams. Then your heart slows down and you feel human again." 

Sergeant Akers also led his squad as an on-scene response force on two separate IED attacks securing the area for British EOD teams to respond via British Merlin helicopters.
"Tech. Sgt. Akers is representative of the heroism displayed by many of our defenders on the front lines in Iraq and in other hostile areas," said Maj. Melissa Youderian, 341st Security Forces Squadron commander. "His humbleness about his heroic actions during convoy operations serves to remind us we have many Airmen serving in harm's way, putting their lives on the line to serve their nation." 

The Bronze Star is awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the military of the United States after Dec. 6, 1941, distinguished himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight.