Red Erwin Award bestowed to two Hurlburt Airmen

  • Published
  • By Jamie Haig
  • 1st SOW Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  Two of the three Air Force-level Red Erwin Awards were presented to Tech. Sgt. Erik Thompson, 15th Special Operations Squadron, and Senior Airman Lisa Moser, 4th SOS, Nov. 15 by Chief Master Sgt. Tim Steffen, enlisted aircrew career field manager, in a ceremony at the 16th SOS.

The Red Erwin Award is presented to Airmen and NCOs for outstanding job accomplishments, demonstration of leadership and sustained self-improvements in support of the enlisted aircrew operations career field.

Sergeant Thompson supported the special operations forces most strategic field in Afghanistan, and was a part of the team that saved more than 250 U.S. troops by airdropping fuel, food and ammunition to them when they had less than a day's provisions available to them. He was also part of a team that provided 120,000 pounds of fuel during a marathon 24 hour FARP mission to a fuel-starved base sustaining SOF missions.

Sergeant Thompson was an initial cadre flight engineer for the $240 million MC-130 aerial refueling system which was part of the U.S. Special Operations Command's modification program for the MC-130H Talon II. His work on the project delivered the MCARS initial operational capability four months before SOCOM's deadline. Sergeant Thompson's efforts increased the SOF's penetrating tanker capability by 64 percent, ensuring it would meet the increased needs of the U.S. Army's elite helicopter units. He was responsible for writing the MC-130H procedures and training guides and as well as training all crew positions in this new capability. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, he delivered the tanker airlift control element and navigation equipment into storm ravaged Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., opening the base for humanitarian relief operation efforts.

Sergeant Thompson's accomplishments are too numerous to mention, but his dedication to the 15th SOS, the 1st Special Operations Wing and the U.S. Air Force were recognized in the presentation of this award.

Airman Moser was rewarded for her work as an AC-130U loadmaster where she had a total of 214 combat hours on 31 direct-action missions. During one mission, she noticed enemy fire was directed at friendly forces and directed the aircraft's visual sensors towards the enemy's position. Guiding the fire missions, she was able to help save 40 lives.

On the ground, Airman Moser worked with aircraft maintenance personnel and led a six-person team through 70 aircraft pre-flights, which enabled the squadron to complete 1,072 combat hours in a 60-day time frame.

Her focus on safety practices and her hard work helped the 4th SOS maintain the record of no Class A, B or C mishaps during 2,400 training hours and 6,535 combat hours in one year.

Airman Moser preflighted six AC-130Us out of Hurricane Katrina's path, saving more than $1.2 billion in aircraft assets. She flew on the Northern Command directed Task Force Rita mission after Hurricane Rita damaged the Louisiana and Texas regions, allowing officials to complete a hazardous materials damage assessment of the airfield.

Airman Moser's achievement record continues, and it's because of her commitment and perseverance to the 4th SOS and the 1st SOW that she was chosen for this award.

"These are two squadrons in a command where a person matters," said Col. Norman Brozenick Jr., 1st Special Operations Wing commander. "The impact of these individuals is now documented in history."