Army awards security forces members medals

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Rachelle Elsea
  • 325th FIghter Wing Public AFfairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  In the fight for Operation Iraqi Freedom members from security forces spend an average of six months deployed and six months home. However, their dedication is more evident than it has ever been.

Within the last year, three members from the 325th Security Forces Squadron here returned from deployment with medals, Staff Sgt. Nathan Spradley, Airman 1st Class Sarah Adams and Airman 1st Class Randall Landers.

Staff Sgt. Nathan Spradely was sent to Joint Base Balad, Iraq, where he was awarded an Army Commendation Medal for his participation in more than 100 combat patrols outside the base.

With this being his third deployment, he knew what to expect. He spent 45 days at Creech Air Force Base, Nev., for training and then continued on to his deployment for 179 days.

His job, while he was in country, was to provide on call response to hostile actions outside the wire.

"If the base were attacked, we would provide armed response to the specified grid location," said Sergeant Spradley. "Also, a vast majority of the week, we would push outside the wire in Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles. We would provide security for tens of thousands of coalition force personnel."

When MRAP vehicles were not being used, they would conduct foot patrols through the streets.

Sergeant Spradley said he was able to learn a lot about the people of Iraq while he was deployed.

"A vast majority of the Iraqi populace are good, law abiding citizens, it is the few bad apples that give their population a black eye amongst the world's population," said Sergeant Spradley. "For the most part the Iraqis are hard working respectable people. I truly believe Iraq has a bright future due to the efforts of the populace that resides there."

For Airmen Adams and Landers, deployed to Camp Bucca, Iraq their duties were very different. Camp Bucca was Iraq's largest detainment facility.

They played a key part in detainee visitations.

"Every day we would bring in all the local national visitors who were direct relatives of the detainees," said Airman Adams. "They were allotted two-hour visitations."

Airman Landers received his Army Commendation Medal for finding six pieces of contraband on a detainee before a visitation.

"They would rip their clothes up and write notes on them and stuff them in their pockets or waistband," said Airman Landers. "Then they would try to pass them on to their visitors so they could get word out."

Airman Adams received her Army Achievement Medal for administering two lifesaving IV's to local nationals who traveled to Camp Bucca to visit relatives who were detainees.

"I got what I wanted out of this deployment," said Airman Adams. "I was able to find my goal and my passion, which was the medical profession."

When the Airman arrived to Camp Bucca the facility held almost 15,000 detainees. Every day they would be required to search hundreds of detainees and hundreds of visitors before and after visitations.

The facility has since closed, and while the Airmen were deployed many detainees were either released or moved.

With the workload slowly decreasing, Airman Landers took time to get involved.

"I was able to volunteer at the base church as the drum player," said Airman Landers. "It really helped time pass and it is something I like to do."

The three security Forces members received their awards while deployed and have since returned home safely.