Capt. Thomas Slais, commander, Electronic Attack Wing U.S. Pacific Fleet, recently singled out three of his Sailors who served as individual augmentees in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

“I have served on an IA in Iraq and understand the demands that are placed on service members, and their families,” said Slais. “I praise their extreme devotion to the mission and the U.S. Navy.”

Storekeeper 3rd Class Michael Walters from Tampa, Fla., received the Joint Service Commendation Medal for meritorious service in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as the Resource management, budget non-commissioned officer for Camp Leatherneck from February 2009 to January 2010.

Storekeeper 1st Class (AW) Buffy Porter from Vancouver, Wash., earned the Meritorious Service Medal for her hard work in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as the Senior Enlisted Advisor for Forward Operating Base Apache Garrison, 2nd Brigade, 205th Corps, Afghan Regional Corps Advisory Command South from March to September 2009.

Chief Storekeeper (SW) Val Finley of Mt. Pleasant, Texas, received the Bronze Star Medal for his impressive service while deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

He served as the Battalion Command Sgt. Maj. Mentor and Embedded Tactical Trainer of 5th Battalion, 1st Brigade, 203rd Corps, Regional Corps Advisory Command — East, NATO Training Mission and Combined Security Transition Command — Afghanistan from November 2008 to November 2009.