AFRC 2015 Security Forces Award Individual Winners Named

- COLONEL BILLY JACK CARTER AWARD: SMSGT MICHAEL BULLARD, 910 SFS, YOUNGSTOWN ARS, OH

- A1C ELIZABETH JACOBSON AWARD FOR EXPEDITIONARY EXCELLENCE: SSGT DANIAL ROSAS, 349 SFS, TRAVIS AFB, CA

- AIR RESERVE COMPONENT COMPANY GRADE OFFICER: CAPT JACOB HOLLINGSWORTH, 434TH SFS, GRISSOM ARS, IN

- AIR RESERVE COMPONENT SENIOR NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER: SMSGT RAYMOND L. MOONEY, 512 SFS, DOVER AFB, DE

- AIR RESERVE COMPONENT NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER: SSGT BYRON HUNTER, 94 SFS, DOBBINS ARB,

- AIR RESERVE COMPONENT AIRMAN: SRA CHRISTOPHER M. BISHOP, AFRC, 94 SFS, DOBBINS ARB, GA

- COMPANY GRADE OFFICER: CAPT JAMES BLACK, 512 SFS, DOVER AFB, DE

- FLIGHT LEVEL SENIOR NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER: MSGT TYNISHA DOWNS, 926 SFS, NELLIS AFB, NV

- FLIGHT LEVEL NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER: SSGT RORY GRIFFIN, 439 SFS, WESTOVER ARS, MA

- FLIGHT LEVEL AIRMAN: SRA JAMIE PARADA, 926SFS, NELLIS AFB, NV

- SUPPORT STAFF SENIOR NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER: MSGT STEVEN PELLETIER, 439TH SFS, WESTOVER ARS, MA

- SUPPORT STAFF NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER: TSGT MICHALE RUSH, 434 SFS, GRISSOM ARS, IN

- SUPPORT STAFF CIVILIAN: MR CHARLES TROVARELLO, 439 SFS, WESTIOVER ARS

- FLIGHT LEVEL CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE (SUPERVISOR): MR. TERRY WILSON, 94 SFS, DOBBINS ARB, GA

- FLIGHT LEVEL CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE (NON-SUPERVISOR): MR. TRAVIS CLARK, 911 SFS, PITTSBURGH ARB, PA

- HIGHER HEADQUARTERS NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER: MSGT GREGORY GWYN, HQ AFRC A4S, ROBINS AFB, GA

- HIGHER HEADQUARTERS CIVILIAN: MR. NEIL BETHUNE, HQ AFRC A4S, ROBINS AFB, GA

 ANG 2015 Security Forces Award Individual Winners Named

· Airman First Class Elizabeth Jacobson Award - Staff Sgt. Orlando Calzadillas, 161st Security Forces Squadron, Phoenix, AZ

· Staff Sergeant Todd "TJ" Lobraico Award for Excellence - Senior Airman Mark Bariciano, 105th Base Defense Squadron, Newburgh, NY

· Outstanding Security Forces Flight-level SNCO Award - Master Sgt. Casey B. Walsh, 104th Security Forces Squadron, Barnes Air National Guard Base, Westfield, MA

· Outstanding Security Forces Flight-level NCO Award - Staff Sgt. Steven Vigneault, 104th Security Forces Squadron, Barnes Air National Guard Base, Westfield, MA

· Outstanding Security Forces Flight-level Airman Award - Senior Airman Shane T. Coakley, 104th Security Forces Squadron, Barnes Air National Guard Base, Westfield, MA

· Outstanding Security Forces Support Staff Senior NCO Award - Master Sgt. Michael R. Conner, 129th Security Forces Squadron, Moffett Federal Airfield, CA

· Outstanding Security Forces Support Staff NCO Award - Staff Sgt. Maurice A. Canapi-Figueras, 129th Security Forces Squadron, Moffett Federal Airfield, CA

· Outstanding Security Forces Support Staff Airman Award - Senior Airman Toni L. Tenner, 129th Security Forces Squadron, Moffett Federal Airfield, CA

· Outstanding Security Forces Higher Headquarters Staff Civilian Award - Shane Braziel, NGB/A7S, Joint Base Andrews, MD

· Outstanding Security Forces Higher Headquarters Staff NCO Award - Master Sgt. Steven D. Jeffers, NGB/A7S, Joint Base Andrews, MD

· Outstanding Air Reserve Component Security Forces Company Grade Officer Award - 1st Lt. Amanda Correll, 113th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, MD

· Outstanding Air Reserve Component Security Forces Senior NCO Award - MSgt Yolanda Spikes, 113th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, MD

· Outstanding Air Reserve Component Security Forces NCO Award - Tech. Sgt. William D. Chaddock, 129th Security Forces Squadron, Moffett Federal Airfield, CA

· Outstanding Air Reserve Component Security Forces Airman Award - Senior Airman John Mazepa, 113th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, MD

· Outstanding Air Reserve Component Security Forces Civilian Award - Officer Christopher J. Krutka, 104th Security Forces Squadron, Barnes Air National Guard Base, Westfield, MA

Two Guardsmen Killed In Afghanistan Suicide Bombing To Be Named Honorary OSI Agents
By Phillip Swarts, AF Times Staff writer 3:43 p.m. EST December 30, 2015

The six airmen who were killed in a Dec. 21 suicide bomb attack are, clockwise from top left: Maj Adrianna M. Vorderbruggen, SSgt Michael A. Cinco, SSgt Chester J. McBride, TSgt Joseph G. Lemm, SSgt Peter W. Taub, and SSgt Louis M. Bonacasa. (Photo: Air Force photos)

The two New York Air National Guardsmen who died Dec. 21 in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan have been named honorary special agents for the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, the agency announced Monday.

TSgt Joseph Lemm, 45, and SSgt Louis Bonacasa, 31, died after their patrol was attacked by a suicide bomber riding a motorcycle near Bagram Air Base. Both were assigned to the 105th Security Forces Squadron, Stewart Air National Guard Base, New York.

Four OSI Special Agents were also killed in the blast: Maj Adrianna Vorderbruggen, 36, and Staff Sergeants Michael Cinco, 28, Peter Taub, 30, and Chester McBride, 30.

On Monday, Brig Gen Keith Givens, the commander of OSI, announced that the two Guardsmen would be made honorary agents.

“In our command's 67 year history, we have selected less than 60 Honorary OSI Special Agents. None of those have been active-duty Security Forces or Air National Guard members,” Givens said. “That has changed today. After consulting with all of OSI's senior leaders, the following ‘Brothers-in-Arms’ members have been made Honorary AFOSI Special Agents.”

Givens added that Lemm and Bonacasa would join OSI’s Hall of Heroes at Quantico, Va., which honors fallen special investigations personnel. Official badges and credentials will be presented to the Guardsmen’s families.

“These two heroes served alongside our Special Agents at Bagram and represent the Tactical Security Element professionals who have teamed up with OSI on our ‘outside-the-wire’ missions for the past five-plus years. They are true defenders and true teammates,” Givens said.

Six Airmen Killed In Afghanistan Identified
by Jeff Schogol, Staff writer 8:35 p.m. EST December 22, 2015
(Photo: Kenn Mann/Air Force)

Once again, the Air Force is in mourning.
The Defense Department identified six airmen killed in Afghanistan just days before Christmas:

• Maj. Adrianna M. Vorderbruggen, 36, with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, 9th Field Investigations Squadron, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.
• Staff Sgt. Michael A. Cinco, 28, with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, 11th Field Investigations Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas.
• Staff Sgt. Peter W. Taub, 30, with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Detachment 816, Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota.
• Staff Sgt. Chester J. McBride, 30, with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Detachment 405, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.
• Tech Sgt. Joseph G. Lemm, 45, with the 105th Security Forces Squadron at Stewart Air National Guard Base, New York.
• Staff Sgt. Louis M. Bonacasa, 31, with the 105th Security Forces Squadron at Stewart Air National Guard Base, New York.

“The tragic loss of six airmen casts a dark shadow over our Air Force this holiday season,” Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said in a Tuesday statement. “As we collectively mourn with their families and loved ones, let us never forget their courage, bravery, and selflessness. These airmen volunteered to serve their country and by doing so, gave a full measure of devotion. On behalf of all of us, I offer my deepest condolences to their families, friends, and fellow airmen."

The deaths of the four OSI agents make Monday's attack "the deadliest day in our command's history," Brig. Gen. Keith Givens, OSI commander, said on Tuesday.

"We lost four brave special agents and two patriotic security forces members on a joint patrol outside of Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, Monday, Dec. 21," Givens said in a statement. "The OSI family will undoubtedly rise to the occasion yet again and honor these great Americans, but for now, I ask for your thoughts and prayers to go out to the families and loved ones of the fallen."

AFSFA Policy Note:

First and foremost, AFSFA publishes only AF validated information regarding serious and painful events like this. That helps prevent misinformation that could cause more pain or confusion. Although it may appear AFSFA is slow to publish articles about these types of events we will publish when information has been officially released by the Air Force. This ensures we get it right all the time.

Obviously, it has been just over 48 hours since the Bagram attack and the loss of six Air Force personnel, so much is not yet set or known such as memorial services and other follow-on ceremonies. Once that information is known AFSFA will pass it on.

Honoring our Defender who have given their life while performing duties is one of the most important tasks AFSFA takes to heart. Routinely, AFSFA works with the unit so we are present at the memorial service and present the surviving family a mounted beret with name plate, sympathy card, Fallen Defender and AFSFA coin and AFSFA magazine. Following services we coordinate with the unit to produce a 18 inch by 24 inch black granite plaque for the unit to post memorializing their Defender. The next Security Forces Magazine will include photos and articles made available from the unit about their Defender and copies of the magazine are respectfully sent to the unit and the families.

While each of us gets ready to enjoy the Christmas and New Years times please keep all of our Defenders, their families, and their units in your prayers and thoughts.

Defenders Visit Capitol Hill‏
by MSgt Cody Stollings, 11 SFS, JB Andrews, MD

Recently (M)Sgt Cody Stollings, 811th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, led a professional development seminar for 15 Airmen to Capitol Hill. These Airmen were selected by their flight leadership to attend for their outstanding duty performance and excellent professionalism. These "Presidential Defenders" were given a private tour of the Capitol, watched a 20 minute introduction video about Congress, observed a session of Senate debate from the Senate Galleries, and had a brief 25 minute sit down with retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Colonel and now Congressman from Ohio, Bill Johnson. Congressman Johnson posted this to his Facebook account: "Yesterday, I met with 16 of our nation's finest warriors. These airmen, all serving in the USAF's Security Forces career field, stopped by to talk about life in today's Air Force...and, to swap a few war stories from my 26 years in the Air Force. We laughed a little, but we also discussed seriously the many global threats to America's national security, including our fight to destroy ISIS. I was honored to spend time with these young heroes who came from across sections of America - from California to Virginia and many other states in between."