Airman's dedication honorably recognized

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Christopher Reel
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Seven years ago, a young man took an oath--an oath of enlistment.

He swore to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; to bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and to obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over him.

Senior Airman Jeremy Lowe, 325th Communications Squadron communications cable and antenna systems journeyman, left his home in Rialto, Calif., looking to provide a better life for his daughter and joined the U.S. Air Force.

Prior to his assignment at Tyndall, he served at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, and has deployed twice to Afghanistan.

His outstanding performance and dedication during his recent deployment in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM earned him the Bronze Star Medal.

The Bronze Star is the fourth highest military decoration. Service members in any branch of the military service who performed heroic or meritorious achievement or service to individuals in ground combat are eligible for the award.

While on his deployment, he was the network expansion project manager for Regional Support Command North.

"We were responsible for outside-the-wire missions in order to conduct initial site surveys, vendor site surveys, inspections and final inspections working with the Afghan Nation Security Forces and local vendors in order to engineer and oversee the installation of communications infrastructure for ANSF compounds all across RC-N," Lowe said.

During his deployment, he oversaw 10 network expansion projects for more than 40,000 ANSF personnel in nine provinces. In doing so, he conducted more than 40 outside-the-wire vendor site surveys to validate requirements for the installation of information technology equipment valued at more than $120 million.

In the course of one of those missions, the convoy he was in was exposed to insurgent small arms fire, which earned him the Combat Action Badge.

"I'm proud to have been able to play such an impactful role in Operation ENDURING FREEDOM," said Lowe. "Interaction with the locals and the ANSF revealed just how grateful most were with us there and contributing to their security mission."

His duties and work experience at Tyndall, such as maintaining, installing and repairing communication cable infrastructure, laid the foundation for what was expected of him in the deployed theatre.

While deployed, he ensured working order, installations repairs and upgrades of Forward Operating Base Air Force Network infrastructure. He was the security manager responsible for the distribution of communication security material and radio trouble shooting. He also oversaw the forward operating base personnel's network accounts and small computer repair and trouble shooting.

"Both stateside and down range, the impact of our work is undeniably the biggest satisfaction I get out of being in the Air Force," Lowe added. "Being able to see the infrastructure installed and being used shortly after an installation or knowing that a repair brought a critical circuit back into service is a very satisfying feeling."

All of the work and dedication couldn't have been completed with the help of his team. There are a lot people that deserve recognition, explained Lowe.

"Staff Sgt. Schneider Sagesse, my initial supervisor, pushed me to get involved in more projects," Lowe said. "Captain Bryon Buzan, officer in charge during my first six months, made the deployment more bearable by being actively involved in even the most menial of tasks such as performing Guardian Angel duty with the rest of the shop personnel and looking out for us in general."

Guardian Angel members are responsible for the security of contractor civilians and the Afghan National Army students conducting radio maintenance training.

"Another influential member is U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Keith Joell, our NCO in charge, for being actively engaged in our day-to-day tasks and who showed a great amount of faith and confidence that what we accomplished as a team was worthy of the submission and defense of the bronze star being approved.

"And of course, I can't forget the rest of the team there at RSC-N communications division who contributed to my success, U.S. Army Spc. Tyler Johnson, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Steven Lemke, U.S. Navy Electronic Technician 1st Class June Winebrinner, and U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Gregory Randle who made life much easier by being good friends, battle buddies, shipmates and Wingmen."