Heroes of the 436th Communications Squadron

  • Published
  • By Maj. Jason Fick
  • 436th Communications Squadron commander
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  I want to use this forum to publically brag about a couple of the many outstanding warriors serving in the 436th Communications Squadron. Over the past year, our squadron has deployed 34 of our 92 assigned Airmen, many of which served in front line units with our joint service brothers and sisters. All 34 of these cyber warriors served honorably. Twenty-seven have returned safely and we are patiently awaiting the return of our remaining seven comrades. Three Airmen that returned with truly amazing stories are Staff Sgt. Tiffany Cleveland, Senior Airman Lamar Watson and Airman 1st Class Alexandra Olexa. Below is just a glimpse of their accomplishments.

Sergeant Cleveland returned from an Afghanistan deployment in April 2009. During this deployment she served as a computer administrator with a special operations unit in Afghanistan. Sergeant Cleveland was supporting a forward operating base when the Black Hawk helicopter she was riding in took heavy enemy fire. Sergeant Cleveland performed superbly during this tour and was decorated for her actions.

Fast forward six months, after she returned to Dover, when another deployment tasking came down. Duty limiting conditions in the squadron threatened to force a tasking to go unfilled, so Sergeant Cleveland volunteered to go back to Afghanistan. This time she was assigned as the knowledge operations manager in the 455th Expeditionary Mission Support Group at Bagram Air Base. Her deployed commander reports she managed the command and control systems for her base's Crisis Action Team. She is credited with coordinating stellar joint support during seven ground attacks on the base, including the one on May 19 when insurgents broke into the base. She maintained 100 percent personnel accountability in her group and ensured post attack sweeps were properly, and safely, conducted.

The systems she managed supported 6,000 combat missions, 550 munitions drops, and delivery of 80,000 tons of cargo and 200,000 passengers. Sergeant Cleveland is truly a warrior's warrior and earned an Air Force Achievement Medal for her efforts.

Airman Watson also returned from a deployment to Bagram where he served as a network administrator in the 359th Tactical Theater Signal Battalion's Joint Network Control Center-Afghanistan. Airman Watson was hand-selected to support his brigade's senior staff and installed three command and control systems his brigade commander and other senior leaders used as soon as they arrived in the Area of Responsibility.

He was appointed as the lead system administrator on the Afghan Mission Network, which supported the combat operations of more than 100,000 deployed warriors. His Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge reported Airman Watson was a stellar technician who ensured the integrity of U.S. Forces Afghanistan files while supporting multiple forward operating bases.

Airman Watson returned to Dover with an Army Commendation Medal and a NATO medal. He was also awarded the 359th Tactical Theater Signal Battalion's Combat Patch for his actions during armed convoy operations.

Airman Olexa deployed as an administrative assistant to the Provincial Reconstruction Team Paktya administrative staff, Forward Operating Base Gardez, Afghanistan. During her deployment, Airman Olexa completed 30 mounted combat patrols with her infantry counterparts and completed 20 entry control point shifts where she was tasked with protecting coalition forces on her base. During one insurgent attack Airman Olexa's commander ordered her to man a guard tower and then later order her to fire on a vehicle that was illegally moving through her sector. Her well-placed machine gun fire caused the vehicle operator to U-turn, removing the threat to her team and her base. She was also called upon by her commander to use her M-204 grenade launcher to expertly fire smoke rounds when her convoy was attacked. She quickly and accurately fired shots warning inbound helicopters of a hot landing zone and enemy positions. Her deployed NCOIC reported she was awarded the U.S. Army Combat Action Badge for fire fights with insurgents where her superb actions ensured zero friendly causalities. Airman Olexa earned an Army Commendation Medal, NATO medal, and was awarded the Combat Patch of the 101st Airborne Screaming Eagles for her tour of duty.

I am humbled to have the opportunity to know and work with these three warriors. They are my heroes. Each served their nation well and proudly, completed difficult and important missions, and returned home with honor and valor. Please know that when you dial 677-2666 you are more than likely talking to a deployment-hardened combat vet.