HONOR DUTY RESPECT - The Citadel

4Col. Terry Bullard, Class of 1993, is the commander of the24th Expeditionary Field Investigative Squadron, Air ForceOffice of Special Investigations (AFOSI), in Southwest Asia.He leads more than 200 people in counter-threat operations,counterintelligence support to force protection, and criminaland fraud investigations through 11 field offices in ninenations. His squadron is responsible for protecting U.S. AirForces Central Command and U.S. government activities fromterrorist, insurgent and foreign intelligence threats that couldobstruct operations. Terry, now on his fifth deployment, isproud of the role his squadron plays in ensuring that installationsremain safe and operational. Whether he is counteringterrorist and insurgent threats in Iraq or working majorcriminal investigations in the United States, being an AFOSIspecial agent has given him the opportunity to confront challengingissues in remote parts of the world. Terry and his wiferecently welcomed a new baby girl into their family, which heexperienced via Skype. He marvels at how well his three sonshave kicked in to help while he has been away for the year.656Maj. J. Michael Earl Jr., Class of 1991, is the chiefnurse of the 651st Expeditionary Aeromedical EvacuationSquadron at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. Heleads flight nurses and medical technicians who providecare for wounded, injured and sick military members.His squadron transports patients from SouthernAfghanistan to Bagram Airfield, where they are sentback to the United States for follow-up care. A few yearsafter graduating from The Citadel, he decided to pursuenursing, serving as an aeromedical evacuation nursein the 315th Airlift Wing reserve unit for nine yearsbefore transferring to active duty. Meeting and caringfor our wounded and sick warriors has been the mostremarkable experience of his life—the courage of ourtroops and civilians never ceases to amaze him. Mikeencourages his airmen to perform at the highest levelwhile caring for our military. In 1989, when HurricaneHugo hit Charleston, Mike was a member of The Citadelfootball team. Instead of evacuating, he remained instorm-ravaged Charleston. In between practices the teamassisted in the cleanup efforts. Eventually, as the campuswas restored, Mike became impressed with what can beaccomplished when a small group is fully committed to acommon goal.Capt. Derek St. John, Class of 2003, is an instructor andevaluator pilot with the 22nd Expeditionary Air RefuelingSquadron at the Manas Transit Center in Kyrgyzstan. As aKC-135 tanker operator, he sees first-hand how critical airrefueling, and particularly his tanker’s ability to leveragecombat air power through the process, is to the successof the mission. He remembers his father, an Armyintelligence officer, driving him around the flight linein an old-school Jeep to sit in the cockpit of the OV-1Mohawk. A self-proclaimed Army brat, he grew uphearing his father’s war stories about calling in close airsupport from AC-130 gunships. These stories inspired him tomake the most out of his airframe’s capabilities to help ensurethe safe homecoming of our troops. Recalling The Citadel, hefondly remembers walking across the parade field to get readyfor the Friday afternoon graduation parade and telling hisparents he received a slot to attend Air Force pilot training.But the memory that will always resonate with him most ishis commissioning day, when his father swore him in as anAir Force officer.47