Team Mildenhall NCO commands convoys to Iraq

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Neal Joiner
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England - --  An Airman from the 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron recently returned from a deployment where he led a team of Airmen, Soldiers and third-country nationals conducting convoy missions to and from Iraq.

Tech. Sgt. Joshua Moul was assigned to a joint logistics task force in southwest Asia, from Sept. 1, 2011, to Jan. 1, 2012.
During his time with the task force, he led eight convoy missions in support of the U.S. military's drawdown and eventual departure from Iraq during what was one of the largest U.S. military logistical retrograde missions since World War II.

In preparation for his duties as a combat convoy commander, Moul received specialized training.

"I attended a basic combat convoy course at Camp Bullis, Texas, and trained during the deployment." said Moul.
The training included lessons on convoy and combat operations, navigation systems, and advanced skills used during combat. The training played a direct role in the achievement of mission success during the deployment.

On one mission in particular, Moul was responsible for planning the convoy, rehearsing table top scenarios and coordinating a security escort. Preparation for the mission included a pre-combat inspection of all vehicles and personnel, the servicing of weapons and ammunition, procurement of food, water and fuel, and communications checks and dissemination of intelligence.

The convoy consisted of more than a dozen Air Force tractor-trailer operators and maintainers multiple Soldiers and more than 30 contracted third-country national tractor-trailer operators.

Chief Master Sgt. Matthew Wickham, the squadron chief of the 387th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, rode with Moul during that convoy mission and saw not only a successfully executed mission but an NCO going above and beyond the call of duty.

Despite long hours, austere living conditions and daily uncertainties Tech. Sergeant Moul always maintained a sense of professionalism and integrity by executing the mission at hand and placing the needs of his personnel over his own; never eating or resting until all daily objectives were satisfactorily met, said Wickham.

During Moul's deployment he logged an impressive amount of miles and cargo moved in support of the historic logistical mission. This included:
Completing eight combat convoy missions

Driving 10,271 miles
Commanding more than 300 trucks
Transporting more than 21,514,000 pounds of cargo
For Moul's dedication to the mission and his troops, he earned a Bronze Star medal.

Maj. Voruz, 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron commander, said "I can't say that I am surprised TSgt Moul earned the Bronze Star for his actions and leadership as convoy commander. During his last three years here at RAF Mildenhall, he's been nothing short of an exceptional NCO who leads by example in everything he does."