Aircrew specialist receives Bronze Star from Army

by Airman 1st Class Benjamin Raughton
2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs

11/15/2013 - BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- What does Barksdale's Master Sgt. Donald Treglia have in common with Chuck Yeager, Oliver Stone, Ernest Hemingway and Audie Murphy?

Treglia, 2nd Operations Group aviation resource management systems, joined their ranks when he was awarded the Bronze Star.

He received the medal during a Commander's Call presided by Col. Michael Adderly, 2nd Operation's Group commander, at Hoban Hall, Nov. 8.

The Bronze Star is awarded to a person, in any branch of military service, who has distinguished himself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, in connection with military operations against an armed enemy. Treglia received the award from the Army.

From November 2011 until June 2012, Treglia was deployed to Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, with the Army's 1st Cavalry Division as an aircrew specialist.

"I did air mission requests," Treglia said. "I did anything that revolved around helicopter operations, specifically Chinooks and Blackhawks. My group and I were responsible for any part of the mission where an aircraft could be scheduled to perform a certain task."

Some of these tasks included flying equipment, mass troop movements with Chinooks, or shuttling Generals between different locations.

Treglia was faced with many difficult decisions throughout his deployment and was required to determine what personnel or equipment would go on a certain aircraft based on priority of immediacy or importance.

"We did a lot of priority flying," Treglia said. "Priority flyers could be someone like a General or an ambassador, and you have to coordinate them based on whoever has a higher priority."

After arriving in Afghanistan, Treglia soon learned the system that was in place for him to schedule flights and coordinate passengers and aircrew.

"I'm very good at prioritizing and figuring out new systems," Treglia said. "When the outgoing battalion from the 1st Cavalry Division found out I could do that, they wanted me to teach the new guys from the 1st Infantry Division how to do the job."

During his deployment, events occurred that escalated opposition to Treglia's mission.

"We were getting mortars on a regular basis, but after a while, you stop worrying about it," he said. "It's a crapshoot. You have to stop worrying because you can't control it. I just took it as a normal part of my day."

Treglia advises Airmen who deploy on what he believes is the most important thing.

"Do your job as best as you can," he said. "I never expected to receive a medal. Keep yourself safe and show strength. Other services appreciate that, and it improves their image of the Air Force."