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18th Security Forces NCO named best in Air Force

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Rey Ramon
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
The 18th Wing's Master Sgt. David Nicholson was recently recognized as both the Air Force Security Forces Senior NCO of the Year and 5th Air Force's Lance P. Sijan Award winner.

The recognition was due in large part to Sergeant Nicholson's work training Iraqi policemen during a year-long deployment with the 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron to Forward Operating Base Falcon, located near Baghdad.

"I have been in for 23 years and I have served in Desert Storm/Desert Shield, Operation Safe Haven and Safe Passage in Panama, and Guantanamo Bay," said Sergeant Nicholson, a native of Big Coppitt Key, Fla. "But this last deployment was different in that it entailed actual combat missions."

The sergeant was awarded a Bronze Star for his efforts leading a police transition team tasked with training the fledgling Iraqi police force to secure the public, conduct criminal investigations and perform counter-insurgency operations.

"It was a unique experience and I know for a fact that what we did there helped," the sergeant said of his time in Iraq.

Though he's credited with saving the lives of 16 Airmen during a combat engagement with insurgents, Sergeant Nicholson downplays his achievements and directs the credit to others.

"The actions of my Airman and how they performed speak for itself," said Sergeant Nicholson. "They all executed their duties heroically and were subsequently decorated with five Bronze Stars, four Purple Hearts, Air Force and Army Combat Action medals, commendations and achievement medals."

"I'm humbled that my supervisor and chief would even think of putting me up for something like this," he added. "I think it's an accumulation of what our unit has done as a whole, not just individually."

In addition to Sergeant Nicholson's awards, the 18th SFS was recognized as the best large security forces unit in Pacific Air Forces and Mr. Daryl Bedford, a reports and analysis specialist with the unit, was named PACAF's outstanding security forces civilian.

Sergeant Nicholson will receive his Air Force-level award at a ceremony at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, at the end of April.