First OIR medal recipient is from 370th Published June 1, 2016 By Master Sgt. Andrew Biscoe 386th AEW/PA BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Staff Sgt. Brandon Eckstein, assigned to the 370th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group, was recently among just five service members to first earn the Operation Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal.Eckstein, who works in aerial port at the Baghdad Diplomatic Service Center, recently represented the Air Force as the first Airman to be pinned with the new medal.He was entirely surprised that he’d be standing at attention in front of Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter.“It was a shock at first that he was going to be the one presenting it,” Eckstein said.“He was the first in the receiving line, and therefore was the very first ever recipient of the OIR Campaign Medal,” said Lt. Col. Larry Hadwin Jr., 370th AEAG deputy commander. The 370th falls under the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, headquartered at an undisclosed Southwest Asia location.Eckstein’s fellow aerial porters comprise a total force of guard, reserve, and active duty. The diplomatic center is one of the busiest ports in Southwest Asia, as Eckstein and the others help keep multiple bases stocked with a constant flow of supplies and servicemembers. They routinely load and unload C-130s, C-17s, and C-5s, to name just a few of the aircraft that pass through the center.While preparing to unload a C-5M Super Galaxy recently, Eckstein downplayed the significance of his medal, and instead deflected the credit to previous generations of military men and women.“I want to give a shout-out to the all the vets who have come before me,” Eckstein said. “They made this possible.”