Eielson honors Airman with Bronze Star medal

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Yash Rojas
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Master Sgt. Juliet Gudgel, a quality assurance superintendent in the 354th Logistics Readiness Squadron, was awarded the Bronze Star medal Nov. 30, 2010.

While deployed, she served as the Military Transition Team First Sergeant and Logistics Advisor for the Basra Operations Command and Commando Battalion from Mar. 17 to Sept. 28, 2010, during Operation Iraqi Freedom 09-11 and Operation New Dawn.

While at the BAOC, Sergeant Gudgel fulfilled many different positions and participated in as many as 70 mounted combat patrols without any vehicle damage or casualties. Although her responsibilities were sometimes challenging, she managed to learn a great deal from Soldiers, Iraqi government officials and private security representatives, which later enabled her to contribute to U.S. combat capabilities.

She served as the oil security advisor to the BAOC commander. Resource security has become even more of a concern for companies and Iraqi government alike since Iraqis opened up oilfields to foreign oil companies.

Basra Commanding General and staff believed the increased oil production would boost revenue in the province. The increased revenue would provide more jobs, feeding the economy and more importantly, allowing the economy to grow.

"Oil companies and the Iraqi government supported civilian contractors with security," said Sergeant Gudgel. "All of this was a collaboration to provide protection to the civilian oil companies that were coming into Basra."

Sergeant Gudgel was part of a team that helped foster successful meetings between security representatives and Iraqi leadership at the BAOC. The Master Sergeant helped coach Iraqis on how to safely provide security for the civilian contractors and ultimately maintain the lifeblood of the Basra province.

"We created an oil security coordination center," said Sergeant Gudgel. "Basically we were able to take five steps back as Americans, and let Iraqis work with these companies on their own."

When not advising Iraqi leadership on matters of oil security, she was busy maintaining the quality of life for the 34-member Military Transition Team, consisting of 10 officers, 11 Non-commissioned officers, two U.S. contractors, three Iraqi National Military Advisors, and nine interpreters.

As a result of Sergeant Gudgel's training and professionalism, she was able to gain the trust of Iraqi leadership, showing that Airmen can provide combat capability and support for U.S. partners.

She also served as an advisor to the Iraqi supply commander. Sergeant Gudgel successfully demonstrated that women deserve a place in the military.

"I was not going in there to change their mindset on females," said Sergeant Gudgel. "I was going there to show them I was an Airman, a hard worker, and I was there to help them."

Her ability to swiftly build rapport earned her a position as head of the Command's badge program. While head of the program she escorted 60 Iraqi Army general officers and staff through the application process to ensure that the right people gained access to United States and coalition facilities in Iraq.

At Eielson Air Force Base, quality leadership and training is what helps Airmen excel to new heights. Airmen deploy knowing that they have the skills necessary to meet the challenges faced in remote places far from Eielson.

According to Col. Karlton Johnson, 354th Mission Support Group commander, Airmen like Sergeant Gudgel have raised the bar and stepped up to today's challenges.

U.S. Armed Forces have come a long way, and today what the nation offers is no longer just men or women in uniform but instead qualified Airmen making a profound impact in our nation's conflicts.

"Her ability as an Airman opens the door for those countries to rethink some of their policies," said Colonel Johnson. "Their thoughts might be if the Americans are doing it and this is the quality person they are getting maybe we are missing out on an important opportunity."

As a bronze star medal recipient Sergeant Gudgel validates the trust and emphasis Eielson places on its Airman.

"It is a testament to the U.S. Air Force, but it's a testament to U.S. combat power and how we are seen across the world," said Colonel Johnson.