CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
An Airman from the 437th Security Forces Squadron received the Bronze Star Nov. 9 for exceptionally meritorious conduct during his deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Gen. Arthur Lichte, Air Mobility Command commander, presented the medal to Capt. Dana Meztger, 437 SFS operations officer, during a ceremony at the 315th Security Forces Squadron main classroom.
Captain Metzger, who deployed to the 886th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, 507th Military Police Battalion, Camp Bucca, Iraq, from Nov. 28, 2006 to May 30, 2007, said the main reason why he was given the Bronze Star was because of the work he did, along with his team, while he was deployed.
During his deployment, Captain Metzger led the Iraqi Corrections Officer Training Academy and helped in formalizing training for future Iraqi detainee officers.
He was credited with the creation of the first-ever certification and validation course, which consisted of qualification standards, lesson plans, progress checklists and competency evaluations, resulting in more than 1,000 Department of Justice certified Iraqi corrections officers.
"We were the only operating internment facility with fully trained Iraqi guards who were performing the mission on their own," Captain Metzger said. Other facilities came to us to see how we did it and why it was working so well for us."
Though Captain Metzger and his team put together a training program for future Iraqi detainee officers, it did not come without some difficulties.
"I learned as much from the Iraqi officers as they learned from security forces," he said. The NCOs and Airmen did this mission with limited resources, hardly any funding and a language barrier with few interpreters."
During his six-month deployment, his team encountered more than 25 large-scale riots, sometimes back-to-back.
"[The NCOs and Airmen] were the true leaders during those times. They stood their ground each and every time, watching out for one another," he said.
Another area the deployed team was responsible for was intelligence gathering within the camp itself.
"Intelligence collection was always important at Bucca," Captain Metzger said. "The detainees were incredibly smart. We always joked the detainees were like the old TV show Hogan's Heroes, with an inner working intelligence cell, and we had to find ways to crack it."
While supervising more than 400 compound searches, Captain Metzger said. They were also able to detect and locate tunnels that were high enough for a person to stand up in and almost as long a football field, said Captain Metzger.
"We were proud to say that, while there, the Air Force had zero escapes," he said.
The accomplishments of Captain Meztger were highlighted by base leadership.
"This is the second time I've been assigned with Captain Metzger, and I have always been impressed with his patriotism, enthusiasm and professionalism," Col. Frank Jones, 437th Mission Support Group commander, said. "He always puts the needs of others in front of his own."
"The Bronze Star Medal Captain Metzger received shows the dedication, drive and leadership of this true combat veteran," Lt. Col. Seth McKee, 437 SFS commander said. "His positive attitude and commitment to excellence were not only displayed while deployed, but also every day in the performance of the men and women under his direction in the 437 SFS."
"The medal will always be a personal symbol of the teamwork, dedication and hard work from all the troops in the mission," Captain Meztger said.
"I'll wear it with pride, but the true reward for me was getting all my troops home safely."
"I say we were there to make a difference, so a country that is rich and full of life can once again contribute to the greater good," he said.