Laughlin member receives fourth-highest combat decoration

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Nathan Maysonet
  • 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  In a ceremony held before his peers at the headquarter's wing conference room, here, one Airman received the fourth-highest combat decoration in the U.S. military, Jan. 15.

Lt. Col. Christopher Reifel, 47th Flying Training Wing director of wing plans and programs, had the added weight of a Bronze Star pinned to his chest for his leadership and service in Afghanistan.

"The medal is a positive reminder of the deployment," said Reifel. "It reminds me of all the great leaders and warriors I met who also deserved it."

Reifel has spent more than 20 years in the Air Force, with his last two here at Laughlin. During his recent deployment to Kandahar, Afghanistan from April to November 2012, Reifel was chosen to command the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing Tactical Airborne Gateway. There he piloted the E-11A, a militarized version of the Bombardier BD-700 Global Express, as part of a joint urgent operational need unit.

JUON units are designed to get mission critical equipment in theatre fast after a need is determined on the ground and funds are allocated for their purchase.

"I flew the equipment into the region with the payload right in back," Reifel said. "The great thing about my time there is hearing about all the forces on the ground and in the air supported by our payloads."

While leading the 451st AEW, Reifel helped reduce the 'fire chain', the time it takes from a request being made for support, to the time weapons arrive on target, helping to save lives.

"The feedback from NATO and U.S. Forces and our Afghan partners about our help was remarkable," said Reifel.

Reifel went on to explain his proudest accomplishments from his time in Afghanistan were the chances to care for the people of his unit and watching them succeed in their tasks, all the while under constant threat of direct and indirect fire on the base.

"Mortars and rockets frequently were shot at the base," he said. "We had several close calls."

Reifel's leadership through such attacks combined with the support delivered to troops on the ground and the reliability of payload delivery earned him the Bronze Star.

"It makes me feel good, looking back at the deployment and what came of it," Reifel said. "It's a reminder of all the forces supported and what we did."

Now back at Laughlin, Reifel brings with him the experiences and lessons learned from his time overseas

"It is an extremely awesome and humbling experience to lead men into combat," he said. "To see all the training come together working in perfect synergy is truly remarkable."