The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant Michael T. Blout, United States Air Force, for gallantry in connection with military operations against an enemy of the United States at Wardak Province, Afghanistan, on 23 October 2012. On that day, Sergeant Blout served as the primary Joint Terminal Attack Controller assigned to an Army Special Forces Team. While conducting operation AMAL KARD SYGANA II, Sergeant Blout received radio traffic indicating an Army Special Forces teammate required immediate medical attention after sustaining wounds form an enemy ambush. Reacting instinctively, Sergeant Blout sprinted 1.6 kilometers towards the sounds of enemy fire to assist his wounded comrade. Coordinating with aircraft orbiting overhead, Sergeant Blout ascertained the location of wounded personnel and directed friendly maneuver elements to converge in support. Sergeant Blout simultaneously used air assets to monitor and track enemy movements. Arriving at the scene of the ambushed friendly element, Sergeant Blout raced across open ground while under direct and accurate enemy fire, placing himself between his wounded teammate and the enemy in order to return fire and protect his fallen comrade and the medic furiously working to save his life. While exchanging direct fire with the enemy, Sergeant Blout orchestrated close air support to keep the enemy at bay and coordinated for the arrival of medical evacuation assets. Hearing the rotor blades of incoming evacuation helicopters, Sergeant Blout marked an impromptu landing zone while still under heavy enemy fire, and aborted the first landing attempt due to the volume and accuracy of insurgent small arms and machine gun fire. Without regard for his own safety, Sergeant Blout placed himself between the landing zone and the enemy and urged his teammates forward, screening the landing and enabling the evacuation of friendly forces. As medical evacuation assets departed, Sergeant Blout immediately directed attack helicopter strafing runs against the enemy positions while friendly forces reconsolidated and retrograded back to covered and concealed positions. Sergeant Blout's courageous and decisive action at the hasty helicopter landing zone against superior firepower was directly responsible for rallying the quick reaction force, and preventing friendly maneuver elements from being overrun. His heroism under withering enemy fire disrupted attacking enemy forces, and prevented the sue loss of coalition air assets. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Sergeant Blout has reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

Special Tactics Airmen earn Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Combat Action Medal

Above; Lt. Gen. Eric Fiel, Air Force Special Operations Command commander, speaks to the families of medal recipients in a ceremony at the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla. Mar 14, 2014. Fiel thanked the families for the support they have given to members during their many deployments. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Victoria Sneed)
by 1st Lt. Jerred Moon
24th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

3/14/2014 - HURLBURT FIELD, Fla.  -- Four Special Tactics Airmen from Air Force Special Operations Command were recognized with medals for actions downrange in a ceremony at Hurlburt Field, Fla., March 14 2014

Tech Sgt. Michael Blout, a Combat Controller, earned the Silver Star Medal; Staff Sgt. Stephan Merlics, a tactical air control party member, earned the Bronze Star with Valor; Airman 1st Class Philip Armstrong, a Special Tactics pararescueman received the Purple Heart Medal and Senior Airman Nathan Wright, a Combat Controller, earned the Combat Action Medal. All four Airmen are assigned to the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron at Hurlburt Field.

"In AFSOC we are all about deploying," said AFSOC commander Lt. Gen. Eric Fiel. "Every day we train to fight and these guys are responsible to protect our families; our sons and daughters. It's amazing."

Blout was presented the Silver Star, the nation's third highest combat military decoration, for gallantry in action against an enemy of the U.S. in Wardak Province, Afghanistan, October 2012.

When he received radio traffic indicating an Army Special Forces teammate required immediate medical attention after sustaining wounds from an enemy ambush, Blout sprinted one mile toward the sound of enemy fire to assist his comrade.

While exchanging direct fire with the enemy, he orchestrated close air support to keep the enemy at bay and coordinated for the arrival of medical evacuation aircraft.

Blout then placed himself between the landing zone and the enemy and urged his teammates forward, screening the landing and enabling the evacuation of friendly forces.
Above; Lt. Gen. Eric Fiel, Air Force Special Operations Command commander, pins a Silver Star medal on the lapel of Tech. Sgt. Michael Blout at the 23rd Special Tatics Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla., March 14, 2014. Blout distinguished himself by using his own body as a shield for a wounded team member as he called in air support on a deployment in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Victoria Sneed)
Merlics received the Bronze Star with Valor, the nation's fourth highest combat military decoration, for heroism in action against an enemy of the U.S. in Afghanistan, from September 2012 to March 2013.

He conducted 48 combat missions with partnered Afghan forces and controlled 263 attack, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft.

His bravery was displayed during a reconnaissance patrol when his team came under direct fire from fortified enemy positions. Disregarding the danger he left cover in order to positively identify enemy positions.

As Merlics was shot at he returned fire on the enemy while simultaneously coordinating medical evacuation assets and directing air strikes onto enemy positions.

Armstrong was presented the Purple Heart, the nation's oldest military authorization, for wounds received in action, May 2013.

Wright was also presented the Air Force Combat Action Medal for active participation in combat, having been under direct and hostile fire or physically engaging hostile forces with direct lethal fire.

"This is a great opportunity for us to recognize our Special Tactics Airmen and their courageous actions downrange," said 24th Special Operations Vice Wing Commander Col. Eric Ray. "It is also great to see the family and friends who provide unwavering support for our warriors. It's these spouses, fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters and other family members whose continued sacrifices are seldom seen and never recognized, but are critical to our success on the battlefield."

Left; Lt. Gen. Eric Fiel, Air Force Special Operations Command commander, pins the Air Force Combat Action Medal on Senior Airman Nathan Wright at the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla., March 14, 2014. Airman Wright earned the medal for being physically engaged in combat and taking enemy fire on a mission while deployed. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Victoria Sneed

With six Air Force Crosses, 30 Silver Stars and hundreds of Bronze Stars, the 24th Special Operations Wing is the most decorated Air Force unit since the end of the Vietnam War. This includes participation in conflicts ranging from Operation Just Cause in Panama to actions in Somalia, more famously coined by Hollywood as "Black Hawk Down," as well as Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.



USAF Combat Controllers Portraits in Courage




The "Portraits in Courage" program was developed to highlight the honor, valor, devotion and selfless sacrifice of America's Airmen.
Michael Blout is a Portrait in Courage, Selected in Volume 8, 2014



 While deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Combat Controller Staff Sergeant Michael Blout, averted catastrophe during high-risk combat operations on October 23, 2012. Sergeant Blout and his team entered Chak Valley, a known hotbed of insurgent activity in Afghanistan’s Wardak Province. The team split into two elements to patrol through dense, jungle-like undergrowth where one of the elements was ambushed and immediately took casualties.

As he approached a small clearing in the foliage, the team’s chief warrant officer suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his chest and legs. While enemy forces poured unrelenting machine gun and rocket propelled grenades from a nearby tree line, Sergeant Blout, without regard for his own life, dashed into the clearing between his teammates and the enemy.

Sergeant Blout suppressed enemy fighting positions with rifle fire, coordinated AC-130W attacks along the enemy-held tree line, and called for an urgent medical evacuation flight of helicopters to land on his position. As the helicopters made their final approach, enemy fighters increased their rate of fire. Sergeant Blout aborted the aircraft before they could touch down and summoned three teammates to suppress enemy fire sweeping the landing zone. Sergeant Blout then resumed the evacuation of their mortally-wounded comrade as he summoned the helicopters and coordinated an assault against an enemy machine gun position.

Sergeant Blout’s actions in the clearing prevented the loss of a coalition aircraft and prevented the friendly position from being overrun. His heroic actions earned him a Silver Star.

The Grateful Nation 2013 Award is presented to six young warriors recognized for having distinguished themselves through superior conduct in the War on Terrorism.
TSGT MICHAEL BLOUT, receives JINSA Award
Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs Grateful Nation Award

Service members including Tech Sgt. Michael Blout, second from right, pose for a photo with Adm. William McRaven, U.S. Special Operations Command commander, center, after receiving the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs Grateful Nation award in Washington, D.C., Dec. 2. The award is presented annually to six military members who distinguished themselves through superior conduct and exceptional service. They represent each of the five branches of the military and U.S. Special Operations Command.
Thursday, December 26, 2013

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. — A special tactics airman from Air Force Special Operations Command received the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs Grateful Nation award Dec. 2 in Washington, D.C.

Tech. Sgt. Michael Blout, 23rd Special Tactics Squadron Combat Controller, was selected for this award for providing joint terminal attack control support for his unit in Afghanistan.

Blout is a 2001 graduate of New Bern High School and is the son of Mike and Mary Margaret Blout of New Bern.

In one instance, Tech. Sgt. Blout helped a nearby U.S. service member who was severely wounded and engaged in a gunfight. Blout selected a small team and led them on a one-mile sprint toward the hostile fire to locate his wounded teammate.

Then, Blout placed himself between the wounded service member and the nearby enemy force. While returning fire, he coordinated a medical evacuation and an AC-130 gunship attack on the enemy.

Blout’s team held their ground during an intense fire fight. Blout exposed himself several times to identify insurgent positions as he coordinated a series of attacks, which ultimately ended the action.

Blout was one of six military members recognized in our nation’s capital for their superior conduct and exceptional service.

“It was a surreal experience,” Blout said as he recalled the award ceremony. “I am humbled and honored to be recognized for this prestigious award and to represent the Air Force and Air Force Special Operations Command.”

The award recipients represented each of the five branches of the military and the U.S. Special Operations Command.

JINSA was founded in 1976 as a non-profit, non-partisan organization to advocate on behalf of a strong U.S. military, a robust national security policy, and a strong U.S. relationship with Israel and other like-minded democracies.

“So many of my teammates have done incredible things in the battlefield in the past year, and I’m lucky to work with these guys,” Blout said.

Blout has also been nominated to receive the Silver Star for his actions.

Military Heroes Honored by JINSA
Technical Sergeant Michael T. Blout, a Combat Control Craftsman with the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, 720th Special Tactics Group, 24th Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt, Florida, acted as a Joint Terminal Attack Controller for an elite Army Special Forces team during eight high-risk combat missions in Afghanistan. On one mission, while clearing an enemy-held valley in Wardak, then-Staff Sergeant Blout learned of a casualty in an area some distance from his position. He immediately selected a small quick-reaction force and led them on a one-mile sprint toward hostile gunfire.  Upon reaching a clearing, he located both the casualty and a combat medic working furiously to save his life.

Sergeant Blout immediately placed himself between them and the nearby enemy, whose forces were well dug in along a nearby tree line. Amidst unrelenting enemy fire, Sergeant Blout called for a medical evacuation helicopter. Next, he coordinated an AC-130 gunship attack on the enemy. At the sound of the approaching evacuation helicopter, Sergeant Blout, ignoring enemy fire erupting all around him, dashed to open area to mark the landing zone. During this entire time, he was on the radio coordinating the evacuation helicopter’s approach and the gunship’s attack runs, while simultaneously returning the enemy’s fire with his personal weapon. Seeing an opportunity to shoot down the rescue helicopter, the enemy increased its fire as it approached. Sensing that the enemy might succeed, Sergeant Blout aborted the landing and moved closer to the enemy’s position to suppress their fire, now joined by his team. They closed within 30 meters and the intensity of their fire on the enemy allowed the rescue helicopter to land and take on the casualty. At this point, the enemy pressed forward and Sergeant Blout led his heavily outnumbered team in a withdrawal while he simultaneously called in strafing runs by AH-64 Apache attack helicopters. As the Apaches departed, the enemy raced to cut off Sergeant Blout’s team, using the dense foliage to cover their movements. The situation had now become a fighting withdrawal with enemy fire coming from the flanks as Sergeant Blout’s team repeatedly returned fire and bounded to new positions in an attempt to link up with reinforcements. Reaching exhaustion, the team held its ground while Sergeant Blout again exposed himself to positively identify insurgent positions as he coordinated another series of Apache strafing runs that ultimately ended the action and enabled the link up with the reinforcements. For his actions that day, Technical Sergeant Blout has been nominated for the Silver Star