![]() ![]() Rhyner was hit three times by 7.62 mm rounds in the opening exchange of gunfire. Rhyner maintained his composure despite the intense incoming enemy fire, and immediately directed multiple 2.75-inch rockets and 30 mm cannon strafing runs from AH-64 helicopters against enemy positions less than 200 meters from friendly forces. He quickly and instinctively returned suppressive fire, which assisted the remainder of his element to find positions of cover. Rhyner, who was pinned down on the side of a 60-foot cliff, held his ground amidst a flurry of bullets and rocket-propelled grenades striking all around him. The deadly and violent battle lasted more than six-and-a-half hours against an enemy force estimated at 200 fighters. Rhyner directed and controlled 50 “danger close” air strikes and strafing gun runs while wounded and under intense enemy fire during a gun battle against a well-trained insurgent force. Zachary Rhyner, then an airman, was awarded the Air Force Cross for his actions in Shok Valley, Afghanistan, April 6, 2008. ![]() ![]() Here is some of what he did, derived from the medal citation and other sources: ![]() For his part in the action, Rhyner received the Air Force Cross, second in combat awards only to the Medal of Honor. In April of 2008, Rhyner found himself deployed in the mountains of Afghanistan with a team of Army Green Berets. Success should be imitated.Ī new combat controller cannot possibly arrive at an operational unit with less time in service or at a lower rank than did Senior Airman Zach Rhyner. During 2008, AFSOC also recognized this program’s high degree of success and has moved to adopt its methods in its organic, in-house training programs for many of its weapons systems. That program is also, surprisingly, the program that has the most recruiting challenges, historically the highest attrition rate during training, and provides new people for the most dangerous missions in all of Air Force Special Operations. A program exists that delivers new people to AFSOC operational units who are fully mission ready at the moment of signing in at the front desk. With the above in mind, it is important for technicians to fully understand the regulations and follow the established testing procedures.In a time of continuous and unbroken war-fighting, the units in Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) need their newly assigned people to be “combat ready” as soon as possible. These procedures, including the use of the Federal Alcohol Testing Form (ATF), apply only to DOT-required testing. The testing procedures for breath or saliva specimens as outlined in 49 CFR Part 40 are very specific and must be followed whenever a DOT-required alcohol test is requested by the employer. As such, the BAT and/or STT must be knowledgeable and proficient in the testing procedures. The STT and BAT directly interact with the employee and instantaneously provide the employee with an alcohol test result. The BAT and STT play a vital role in the success of the DOT alcohol testing program. The Breath Alcohol Technician (BAT) and/or Screening Test Technician (STT) is a person who instructs and assists employees in the alcohol testing process and operates an evidential breath testing or alcohol screening device, respectively.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |