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Flying Razorbacks recognized for Bronze Stars

  • Published
  • By Maj. Heath Allen
  • 188th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
FORT SMITH, Ark. --  The 188th Fighter Wing bolstered its proud and exemplary legacy when it added two Bronze Star recipients to its history books. Those two Airmen were recognized at a commander's call Dec. 1 for their exceptional efforts while deployed to Afghanistan.

Col. Paul Norris, 188th Medical Group commander, and Capt. Bridgette Scott, also with the 188th Med Group, became the second and third Airmen with the 188th to receive the Bronze Star. Both were awarded their medals while deployed. The first Bronze Star in unit history was awarded to Lt. Col. (Ret.) Robert Dolanski in 2005.

"We're very proud of how Capt. Scott and Col. Norris performed during their deployments," said Col. Mark Anderson, 188th Fighter Wing commander. "This is another example of the amazing Airmen we have at the 188th. Both volunteered to deploy to Afghanistan into a combat zone and serve their country away from their loved ones for an entire year. The courage they exhibited and the sacrifices they made to help ensure our nation's safety and security is what makes the 188th one of the best military organizations in the world. They made the 188th and the Arkansas National Guard proud. We're very glad to have them on our team."

Capt. Scott was deployed as the executive officer for the 455th Expeditionary Med Group, Bagram, Afghanistan. Her original deployment tasking was for six months but she volunteered to stay an additional six months.

In addition to her executive duties, she served in a protocol and public affairs role for the 455th, coordinating the visits of three U.S. Senators, 23 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, five state governors and both President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.

She was specifically chosen by 455th senior staff to serve as the Airman who handed each Purple Heart medal to President Obama during a presentation ceremony, which recognized injured troops at one of Bagram's medical facilities.

She coordinated and hosted visits to the Bagram medical facilities by national correspondents from seven major news outlets, including NBC, ABC, NPR, FOX, CNN and the "Today Show".

She coordinated efforts between Task Force Medical-East and the direct reporting unit, which included a Joint Theater Hospital, combat surgical hospital, seven forward surgical teams in 11 locations, five coalition forces, a combat stress clinic, veterinary detachment and medical logistics.

Col. Norris was handpicked to lead on a year-long special Joint Service Agricultural Development Team during a deployment to Zabul Province, Afghanistan, where he helped complete 260 vital combat missions as Team Veterinarian.

He trained 1,300 Afghan farmers on modern farming techniques and implemented an effective animal disease control program. He trained and inoculated 4,400 animals, significantly increasing agricultural productivity in the area of responsibility.

He established a viable animal husbandry program throughout the region, which will pay dividend for generations to come. His expertise resulted in the successful completion of $1.3 million in agricultural business development projects which included demonstration farms, marketing collection centers, poultry production, garden development, animal and plant disease control, and irrigation and erosion control.

His efforts were instrumental in the increase of agricultural productivity, including a 40 percent jump in almond production through targeted orchards in which bee keeping was introduced in key terrain districts for the first time. His efforts significantly improved the agricultural capacity and economic development of Zabul Province, which was key to the counterinsurgency strategy.

Flying Razorbacks recognized for Bronze Stars

  • Published
  • By Maj. Heath Allen
  • 188th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
FORT SMITH, Ark. --  The 188th Fighter Wing bolstered its proud and exemplary legacy when it added two Bronze Star recipients to its history books. Those two Airmen were recognized at a commander's call Dec. 1 for their exceptional efforts while deployed to Afghanistan.

Col. Paul Norris, 188th Medical Group commander, and Capt. Bridgette Scott, also with the 188th Med Group, became the second and third Airmen with the 188th to receive the Bronze Star. Both were awarded their medals while deployed. The first Bronze Star in unit history was awarded to Lt. Col. (Ret.) Robert Dolanski in 2005.

"We're very proud of how Capt. Scott and Col. Norris performed during their deployments," said Col. Mark Anderson, 188th Fighter Wing commander. "This is another example of the amazing Airmen we have at the 188th. Both volunteered to deploy to Afghanistan into a combat zone and serve their country away from their loved ones for an entire year. The courage they exhibited and the sacrifices they made to help ensure our nation's safety and security is what makes the 188th one of the best military organizations in the world. They made the 188th and the Arkansas National Guard proud. We're very glad to have them on our team."

Capt. Scott was deployed as the executive officer for the 455th Expeditionary Med Group, Bagram, Afghanistan. Her original deployment tasking was for six months but she volunteered to stay an additional six months.

In addition to her executive duties, she served in a protocol and public affairs role for the 455th, coordinating the visits of three U.S. Senators, 23 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, five state governors and both President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.

She was specifically chosen by 455th senior staff to serve as the Airman who handed each Purple Heart medal to President Obama during a presentation ceremony, which recognized injured troops at one of Bagram's medical facilities.

She coordinated and hosted visits to the Bagram medical facilities by national correspondents from seven major news outlets, including NBC, ABC, NPR, FOX, CNN and the "Today Show".

She coordinated efforts between Task Force Medical-East and the direct reporting unit, which included a Joint Theater Hospital, combat surgical hospital, seven forward surgical teams in 11 locations, five coalition forces, a combat stress clinic, veterinary detachment and medical logistics.

Col. Norris was handpicked to lead on a year-long special Joint Service Agricultural Development Team during a deployment to Zabul Province, Afghanistan, where he helped complete 260 vital combat missions as Team Veterinarian.

He trained 1,300 Afghan farmers on modern farming techniques and implemented an effective animal disease control program. He trained and inoculated 4,400 animals, significantly increasing agricultural productivity in the area of responsibility.

He established a viable animal husbandry program throughout the region, which will pay dividend for generations to come. His expertise resulted in the successful completion of $1.3 million in agricultural business development projects which included demonstration farms, marketing collection centers, poultry production, garden development, animal and plant disease control, and irrigation and erosion control.

His efforts were instrumental in the increase of agricultural productivity, including a 40 percent jump in almond production through targeted orchards in which bee keeping was introduced in key terrain districts for the first time. His efforts significantly improved the agricultural capacity and economic development of Zabul Province, which was key to the counterinsurgency strategy.