Deployed Gunfighter Airman recognized for restoring airlift capability in Africa

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kimberly Moore Limrick
  • Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa Public Affairs
CAMP LEMONIER, Djibouti --  In recognition of his solitary contributions to the U.S.' peacekeeping efforts in the Horn of Africa region, a Gunfighter Airman currently deployed to Kenya recently received accolades from the commander of the 449th Air Expeditionary Group.

Senior Airman Jovan A. Nieves received the Air Force Achievement Medal from Col. Gregory Petrequin for his efforts to bolster camp security, increase personnel readiness and sustain troop morale by restoring critical airlift capabilities at the forward operating base.

Colonel Petrequin was so impressed with Airman Nieves' efforts that he specifically flew to Manda Bay to personally present the award, the colonel said.

"I wanted to award Airman Nieves [an achievement medal] for his outstanding work," Colonel Petrequin said. "In addition to recognizing his efforts in front of his peers there, I wanted to thank the members of the joint team and the Kenyan military who were instrumental in making this happen."

Airman Neives, who deployed from the 366th Communication Squadron at Mountain Home AFB, went above and beyond expectations and his responsibilities to get the airfield re-opened, according to base officials.

"The Manda Bay Landing Zone was shut down Jan. 17 due to overgrowth of the perimeter safety zones," said Maj. Jeffery Schlueter, 449th AEG safety officer.

"Airman Nieves received specific training prior to arriving at Manda Bay on performing landing zone safety officer duties," added Maj. Michael Bailey, 449th AEG air operations planner. "As an LZSO, Airman Nieves' primary responsibility is to ensure the airfield is safe, suitable and secure for our aircraft to perform operations."

In the Airman's case, this meant keeping vegetation near the airfield cut low to permit safe operations for people and aircraft on the flightline.

"When growth is too tall, numerous safety concerns arise," Major Schlueter said. "If an aircraft has a malfunction and departs the paved runway surface, the low growth keeps aircraft damage to a minimum and maximizes personnel safety. Low growth allows crews to scan departure and landing areas of the airfield during critical phases of flight allowing more time to react to a possible runway incursion."

Keeping vegetation to minimum levels also prevents incoming and departing aircraft from skimming trees and other plants in the approach and departure zones off the runway.

However, once Airman Nieves took on the task of clearing away the overgrown debris, he discovered another problem.

"The clearing areas around the airfield were based on incorrect data," Major Bailey said. It was originally mis-measured and it needed to be extended."

Airman Nieves made several surveys of the area and continually provided feedback to the principle decision-makers at Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa for guidance.

"Whether it was a comprehensive slide show or a telephone update, his daily feedback was critical to getting the airfield opened as quickly as it did," Major Bailey said. "We knew he was the right airman for the job and we had complete confidence in his abilities to quickly and safely re-open the airfield."

The airfield reopened less than a month after it originally closed.

Airman Nieves said it was important for him to get the airfield operational because, "Cargo is the lifeline for the camp. It is vital to receive our food, mail and morale items. It is very critical to the mission to keep the airfield maintained."

"Airman Nieves exemplifies the [quality of] Airmen we have in our Air Force today -- smart, extremely talented and with a can-do attitude to go above and beyond to keep the mission moving," Colonel Petrequin said. "Our senior leadership placed our total trust and confidence in this junior enlisted member's information and observations to help us make correct and timely decisions about this airfield," said Colonel Petrequin.

"We could not have gotten through this as well as we did without him," the colonel added.

The combined, joint task force conducts unified operations across the Horn of Africa to prevent conflict, promote regional stability and protect Coalition interests to prevail against extremism threatening these nations. Task force members provide military-to-military training, civil-military operations and senior leader outreach engagements. They also provide short-term assistance by providing clean water, functional schools, improved roadways and improved medical facilities in the region.