Combined Joint Chiefs of Staff recognizes Airman's efforts supporting Operation New Dawn

Published April 24, 2011
By Maj. Joseph Coslett
9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force-Iraq Public Affairs

BAGHDAD -- The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen recognized an Airman during an award ceremony at Al Faw Palace, Camp Victory, Baghdad, April 22, 2011.

Tech. Sgt. Nicole Hicks, U.S. Forces-Iraq J2-Joint Intelligence executive NCO in charge, earned the Defense Meritorious Service Medal for her exceptional meritorious service to the J-2 Directorate in support of Operation New Dawn.

She served as the focal point for all day-to-day office operations for the J2, whose directorate consisted of more than 1,200 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, civilian employees and contractors.

According to the award, "Her extraordinary dedication to duty and attention to detail in the management of office functions directly contributed to the overall success of the J2 Directorate. Also, displaying the highest level of professionalism at all times and her outstanding efforts facilitated meetings which strengthened U.S. and Iraqi partnerships."

The Pacific, Mo., native, she came in with the right mind set of getting the job done right the first time.

"My first expectation was this was going to be a job where all eyes are on you, so don't mess it up," she said, deployed from Beale Air Force Base, Calif., near Sacramento.

As her first deployment, it is no small feat as she discovered gaining new experience.

"This job has given me opportunities far beyond my expectations," Sergeant Hicks said. "I have done and learned so much from this job. It is no comparison to any other job I have ever had.

At her home station, she is the relocations, retirements, separations and customer service NCO in charge. This deployment was a new experience allowing her to make a difference. She planned and coordinated all of the mission travel for the directorate.

"Hicks led from the front, continuously facilitating executive actions with personnel at the highest ranks of the U.S. Forces-Iraq and U.S. Central Command staffs," the award stated. "She operated outside of her normal Air Force specialty code and performed superbly, combining superior administrative skills with a can-do attitude that resulted in the accomplishment of all assigned task."

Additionally, she was instrumental to the presentation of awards for more than 1,200 joint service members, civilians and contractors for their accomplishments supporting Operation New Dawn.

All of these requirements were propelled in her direction from the start, but Sergeant Hicks' deployed family was understanding.

"The short turnover, even though I had more time than most people got, about a week," she said. "Once your predecessor leaves--that is it--you are on your own. Thank goodness, people I work for and with are patient and forgiving as I hit them over the head with some pretty mean 'learning-curve-balls.'"

Her high for the deployment was riding a Black Hawk for the first time. For her it seemed small and simple, but it was one of her dad's favorite aircrafts, and he is no longer with us.

"He wasn't military, and never got a chance to even see one up close," she said. "Somehow it made me feel like he played a role in this mission in a way, because a part of him finally got a chance to ride in a Black Hawk--by living through me."

Sergeant Hicks following the ceremony realized her and her team's part for the future.

"Being here, a part of this transition in Iraq ... it is living history in the making," she said. "Later in life to know I was here, lived it, breathed it, and played a small role--it is something you can never forget."