Deployed 445th Security Forces Squadron reservist receives pat on back

  • Published
  • By Stacy Vaughn
  • 445th Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  A reservist from the 445th Security Forces Squadron currently assigned to the 506th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, Kirkuk Regional Air Base, Iraq, received a pat on the back for his quick thinking prior to a recent Iraqi Air Force rotor wing pilot graduation. 

When the coordination for transportation of the local media to the ceremony broke down, Staff Sgt. Jude Snell volunteered to drive 25 reporters to and from the ceremony. Col. Eric Overturf, 506th Air Expeditionary Group commander, coined Sergeant Snell at the ceremony and thanked him for his quick thinking and dedication to duty. 

"Sergeant Snell showed devotion to the mission and great flexibility, not only in his willingness to remain on duty and work on his down time, but also his ability to think outside the box and move the bus where he felt it would do the most good and save the most time," said Senior Master Sgt. Robert Smith, 506th ESFS, security forces operations non-commissioned officer in charge. 

In addition to the media, more than 300 U. S. and Iraqi servicemembers, Iraqi government officials, and civilian contractors attended the ceremony. 

Sergeant Smith added that Sergeant Snell's actions directly contributed to the group mission of supporting nation building and helped avoid a potential international incident. Sergeant Snell was also lauded by the head of the Iraqi Security Forces for Kirkuk.