By Vicky Falcon
NAVAIR Public Affairs Office

A Bronze Star Medal was awarded to SKCS (SW) Douglas Ferm, a logistics officer and Technical Directive Kit Manager for NAVAIR.

Ferm just returned from one year Individual Augmentation service as a logistics officer supporting the Regional Support Center, Multi-National Division (Baghdad), Forward Operating Base (FOB) Camp Victory, Iraq.

“It was the hardest I’ve ever worked for such an extended period in my life,” said Ferm, who explained that deployment on a ship involved working six days out of seven. “We worked 12-16 hour days, seven days a week, without one day off for a year,” he said.

That hard work and commitment to service as Logistics Chief for the Counter Radio Controlled IED (Improvised Explosive Device) Electronic Warfare (CREW) program in the Baghdad region is what led to the medal and accompanying recognition.

Ferm’s Navy unit, JCCS1 (Joint CREW Composite Squadron ONE), was attached to the Army’s 1st Cavalry Division, where he developed and employed a new process of accountability for keeping track of the CREW systems as they were issued to units and individuals.

CREW systems are used on vehicles and worn by individual soldiers to jam radio frequencies often used by insurgents to detonate IEDs. During his tour, Ferm issued 15,000-20,000 CREW systems, supporting 13 different sites and FOBs.

“The Army is very strict on accountability of property,” explained Ferm. “We inventoried (the CREW systems) by serial number, issued them to units and then kept track of them – determining who had what system.”

“SKCS (SW) Ferm has had an immediate and positive impact on the ability of Multi-National Division Baghdad (MND-B) and Multi-National Corps Iraq (MNC-I) forces to fight and survive in the most complex threat environment in Iraq,” wrote Capt. Brian E. Hinkley, Commander, JCCS1, of Ferm’s performance in Iraq.

Hinkley also wrote, “Ferm’s dynamic leadership and positive can-do attitude as the first JCCS-1 Sailor with boots on ground guaranteed the Navy made a tremendous first impression. His exceptional professionalism and peerless electronic warfare expertise have been invaluable to our successful organizational development and integration into the Army Corps.

“I have no doubt that his efforts contributed directly to saving the lives of many young Americans and Coalition personnel,” wrote Hinkley.

“It was a very long year,” said Ferm, “but I have a better understanding of the Army and renewed respect for what they do out there. Looking back, if what we did helped bring one soldier back then it was all worth it.”

According to Ferm, his experience at NAVAIR helped prepare him to set up the new system for the Army.

“My job here is basically doing the same job that I did in Iraq,” he said. “I track Technical Directive (TD) Kits (modification kits for aircraft). Some of the TD kits the Marines receive are tracked from here and now I have a much better understanding of how service support from NAVAIR can make a world of difference.”

Ferm was awarded the Bronze Star Medal by the U.S. Army and received the award in a ceremony with NAVAIR’s Commander, VADM David Venlet.

The Bronze Star Medal is awarded to any military personnel who distinguishes himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States.

Ferm is very grateful for the amount of personal support shown to both him and his family while he was deployed.

“NAVAIR was by far the best Command for support,” her said. “I received e-mails and care packages almost on a daily basis.”

Photo Caption 1: SKCS (SW) Douglas Ferm (right) shakes hands with Capt. Brian E. Hinkley, Commander, JCCS1, in front of his worksite during Ferm's one year Individual Augmentation at the Regional Support Center, Multi-National Division (Baghdad), Forward Operating Base (FOB) Camp Victory, Iraq.

Photo Caption 2: SKCS (SW) Douglas Ferm (right) receives his Bronze Star Medal from VADM David Venlet, NAVAIR Commander.