Gunfighter selected for 'Why We Serve' program

Published Dec. 27, 2007
By Senior Airman Brian Stives
366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- A Gunfighter from the 366th Security Forces Squadron was selected Dec. 19 to participate in a Department of Defense national civic outreach program and share his war-related story with the American public.

Staff Sgt. Jason Kimberling was chosen as one of only three Air Force representatives for the DoD's program titled "Why We Serve" in an effort to help the American people understand why U.S. servicemembers choose to serve their country and what that experience entails. This program is the DoD's premier speakers outreach program with service men and women traveling around the country engaging the American public and sharing their experiences.

Service members representing the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps, are traveling the country sharing their experiences and motivations for serving with groups ranging from Chambers of Commerce to Rotary Clubs, to grassroots organizations, conferences, schools and media outlets.

"We will be traveling around and giving three to four speeches a week," said Sergeant Kimberling. "The speaking engagements will not be directed toward the military but more toward the general public."

Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs officials said the program has one simple goal: to help connect returning military members with the general public and give them an opportunity to tell their personal stories.

The "Why We Serve" speakers hit the streets, without any DoD-generated "talking points" or packaged speeches - just their own thoughts to express in their own words, said OSD PA officials.

"The goal is that they will go out on the road to different venues nationwide to tell their story," OSD PA officials said. "Why did they choose to serve the military? What did they do in Iraq or Afghanistan? And why are they are serving our country?"

Luckily for Sergeant Kimberling, that is exactly the way he likes to talk in public.

"I don't mind speaking in public," said Sergeant Kimberling. "If I can just go out there and be myself, I will be okay. I like to go out and have some fun with them."

Although the American public stands solidly behind its servicemembers - as evidenced by the success of DoD's "America Supports You" program - the new "Why We Serve" effort is designed to create a more personal connection, OSD PA officials said.

"You just can't beat face-to-face communication," OSD PA officials said, and that's exactly what the Why We Serve program will promote.

The public will get a chance to shake hands with the troops, talk with them, ask questions about their experiences and see photos from their deployments. "And that bond can only be developed in one-on-one, real communication," OSD PA officials said.

One of the stories they may hear from Sergeant Kimberling is his first few days in Afghanistan. Sergeant Kimberling was deployed to Qalat, Afghanistan, as part of a Provincial Reconstruction Team from August 2006 to August 2007. During this deployment he was recognized for "valorous and meritorious achievement in the face of the enemy while on a combined joint American and Afghan convoy, which came under intense enemy rocket, machine gun and rifle fire." While under heavy fire, Sergeant Kimberling called in close air support, which prevented the fallback positions from being overrun and allowed friendly forces to break contact with the enemy.

The battle took place just after Sergeant Kimberling arrived in the country and earned him the Bronze Star with Valor. However, that battle, while receiving most of the focus, only fulfilled two to three hours of his more than 8,700 hour deployment, or less than half of a percent of his total time.

Or, they may hear about any number of other stories that were seldom heard in the news, such as how he was an integral resource in both knowledge and time when it came to training more than 800 Afghan National Police members. It was this relationship and cooperation that led to the confiscation and destruction of more than $117 million worth of narcotics. Or how he gathered intelligence from more than 180 local area informants and passed this information on. The information disrupted the Taliban's operations and also resulted in recovering a stolen U.S. State Department hard drive containing sensitive information.

"While talking to Sergeant Kimberling, two remarkable aspects of his dedication to duty come to light," said Maj. Matthew Boschert, 366th Security Forces Squadron commander. "The most prominent was his respect for not only those he worked with but also for his adversaries. Sergeant Kimberling truly respected those he fought against, bringing to light the ancient teachings of Sun Tzu and his insistence that one must always know their enemy. The second was his loyalty to team integrity, a loyalty that has him requesting more deployment opportunities with his security forces team once again."

"I'm glad I got picked, because I think it will be a good experience," said Sergeant Kimberling. "I just hope I was picked for a good reason."

"They picked the right Airman! Sergeant Kimberling is a bright, down to earth NCO who will relate well to the public," said Major Boschert. "He has a story to tell and will represent the Air Force and security forces honorably. I'm proud of all the 'Gunslingers' [366th SFS personnel] for their professionalism and dedication during the last few years of back-to-back OIF and OEF taskings. They have triumphed over diversities including enemy contact, improvised explosive devices and securing the world's most notorious terrorists. Sergeant Kimberling represents all of us and will undoubtedly make us proud."

"Sergeant Kimberling was selected because of his brave service and remarkable dedication to duty that truly epitomized the warrior ethos during Operation Task Force Grizzly," said Col. Tom Laffey, 366th Mission Support Group commander. "He represented our Air Force and Nation as a true ambassador by providing a vital service to the country of Afghanistan and building lasting security improvements for the Afghan people. When you sum it all up, Sergeant Kimberling is not only an Air Force combat hero ... but an American hero."

Before anyone will be able to hear Sergeant Kimberling's stories about his time in Afghanistan, he will undergo three days of training consisting of standards of conduct, public speaking, policy and ethics, interview skills, speech preparation and more, Sergeant Kimberling said.

Gunfighter selected for 'Why We Serve' program

Gunfighter Videos

ACC News

Air Force News