D-M Airman wins ACC award

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Betty R. Chevalier
  • 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Senior Airmen Christopher Osnes, 355th Operation Support Squadron Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape specialist, was recognized for going above and beyond the scope of his job.

Due to his exceptional performance, Osnes received the Air Combat Command SERE Specialist Airman of the Year for 2012.

The responsibility of a SERE specialist is to prepare aircrew and high-risk-of-isolation personnel to return with honor. Specialists also train in various climatic conditions and have intense training in wilderness living, map and compass navigation, escape and evasion, and conduct after capture.

Osnes was recognized for dedicating 1440 hours as the subject matter expert in personal recovery, which ultimately led to the recovery of 14 Coalition service members lives saved during Operation Enduring Freedom. Also, he was an observer controller in many Combat Search & Rescue exercises and provided realistic survival and evasion skills to aircrew personnel which lead to two A-10 (pilot) upgrades.

Osnes also instructed Code of Conduct Continuation Training to seven active duty flying squadrons as well as two Air National Guard flying squadrons, which is more than 650 aircrew, all while the section was at 50 percent manning.

On top of keeping up on his training and teaching Airmen, he has been continuing his education and is 16 credits from getting his bachelor's degree for surgical nursing.