Sheppard Airmen earn Bronze Star

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Valerie Hosea
  • 82nd Trainink Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Tech. Sgts. Timothy Bayes and Wendell Snider, instructors at the 782nd Training Group Detachment 6, Gulfport, Miss., were awarded the fourth highest combat medal March 30 after going above and beyond during deployments to Afghanistan. 

"It is a great honor to receive it, especially as an E-6," Sergeant Bayes said. 

The Bronze Star is awarded to any person that served with the military of the United States and distinguished themselves by heroic or meritorious achievement or service while serving in an action against an enemy of the United States, military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force, or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party, according to Air Force Instruction 36-2803. 

These Airmen received the Bronze Star after they completed numerous duties despite the life-threatening risks they faced. They led miles of marches through villages and fields with the threat of improvised explosive devices and enemy forces. They went on more than 190 convoys during their deployments. 

The duo's commander said he was humbled by the opportunity to recognize Sergeants Bayes and Snider. 

"As a commander I am honored to be able to present such distinguished awards to fellow Airmen," said Col. Tony Pounds, 782nd TRG commander. 

Both Airmen were part of provincial reconstruction teams that accomplished missions such as educating province directors of power, economy and agriculture on how to manage the economy for the residents there. 

"It was a whole team effort that allowed us to earn that decoration," Sergeant Bayes said. "The amount of changes we made played a hand too." 

Sergeants Bayes and Snider said they did not have to carry out all of these tasks, but being the Airmen that they are, they chose to take all of those opportunities anyway. 

"We didn't have to do as much as we did," Sergeant Bayes said. "But we did because you could see how much it was helping the people." 

"I would like every Airman to know that if they're given an opportunity to make a difference, they should take advantage of it," he said.