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Former 188th member honored with Bronze Star medal for agricultural work in Afghanistan

  • Published
  • By Capt. Holli Nelson
  • 188th Wing Public Affairs
EBBING AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ark. --  Master Sgt. Paul Fair, a former fire protection specialist with the 188th Wing's Civil Engineer Squadron, was awarded the Bronze Star medal Dec. 5, 2015, during a commander's call held at Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Fort Smith, Arkansas for his year's work in Afghanistan during 2010-2011.

Fair was an agricultural specialist with the Arkansas Agricultural Development Team attached to the Arkansas Army National Guard's 87th Troop Command deployed to Zabul province, Afghanistan from January 2010 through January 2011. The ADT, a newly formed group of agricultural and business specialists from throughout Arkansas' Army and Air National Guard units, was assigned to Southern Afghanistan to advise the local nationals on agricultural best practices.

Fair worked diligently to gain knowledge of the area and how the local Afghanis worked and developed their agriculture. He became the animal science mentor for the Department of Agriculture and Livestock Office while there and helped to plan and execute the ADT's first successful mission "Operation Crazy Dog" where more than 160 animals were vaccinated for rabies. Furthermore, Fair was instrumental in leveraging para-veterinarian training focused on livestock care, vaccination and disease recognition and treatment that resulted in more than 28 trained para-vets from each district in Zabul.   

Additionally, during his time overseas, Fair worked alongside the U.S. Army's Special Forces to develop the concepts and implementation of agricultural seminars that taught progressive techniques tailored to farmers in each district in the area of agriculture. His efforts enabled numerous agricultural seminars to take place in Southern Afghanistan, reaching eight districts that served as an example of effective counterinsurgency operations for the United States.

Fair was joined by his family and friends for the formal recognition ceremony and was lauded by U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Donald Kinder and Brig. Gen. Kurt Vogel, commander of the Arkansas Air National Guard, who presented him with the award.

"When we heard the news that we were going to be putting together an Arkansas ADT and deploying to Afghanistan, we knew we needed strong people to fill these positions," said CW5 Kinder. "Paul was hand selected for his position because of his dynamic skillset and his dedication to mission at hand. It is an honor to see him receive this award."

Former 188th member honored with Bronze Star medal for agricultural work in Afghanistan

  • Published
  • By Capt. Holli Nelson
  • 188th Wing Public Affairs
EBBING AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ark. --  Master Sgt. Paul Fair, a former fire protection specialist with the 188th Wing's Civil Engineer Squadron, was awarded the Bronze Star medal Dec. 5, 2015, during a commander's call held at Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Fort Smith, Arkansas for his year's work in Afghanistan during 2010-2011.

Fair was an agricultural specialist with the Arkansas Agricultural Development Team attached to the Arkansas Army National Guard's 87th Troop Command deployed to Zabul province, Afghanistan from January 2010 through January 2011. The ADT, a newly formed group of agricultural and business specialists from throughout Arkansas' Army and Air National Guard units, was assigned to Southern Afghanistan to advise the local nationals on agricultural best practices.

Fair worked diligently to gain knowledge of the area and how the local Afghanis worked and developed their agriculture. He became the animal science mentor for the Department of Agriculture and Livestock Office while there and helped to plan and execute the ADT's first successful mission "Operation Crazy Dog" where more than 160 animals were vaccinated for rabies. Furthermore, Fair was instrumental in leveraging para-veterinarian training focused on livestock care, vaccination and disease recognition and treatment that resulted in more than 28 trained para-vets from each district in Zabul.   

Additionally, during his time overseas, Fair worked alongside the U.S. Army's Special Forces to develop the concepts and implementation of agricultural seminars that taught progressive techniques tailored to farmers in each district in the area of agriculture. His efforts enabled numerous agricultural seminars to take place in Southern Afghanistan, reaching eight districts that served as an example of effective counterinsurgency operations for the United States.

Fair was joined by his family and friends for the formal recognition ceremony and was lauded by U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Donald Kinder and Brig. Gen. Kurt Vogel, commander of the Arkansas Air National Guard, who presented him with the award.

"When we heard the news that we were going to be putting together an Arkansas ADT and deploying to Afghanistan, we knew we needed strong people to fill these positions," said CW5 Kinder. "Paul was hand selected for his position because of his dynamic skillset and his dedication to mission at hand. It is an honor to see him receive this award."