Pictured is Sgt. Michael Tamez, right, receiving his Bronze Star Medal. Army Sergeant Michael F. Tamez of Kingsville has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal for exceptional meritorious service to the United States as squad leader and convoy commander for 1st Platoon, B Company, 1st Battalion 141 Infantry Regiment, 49th Military Police Brigade stationed in Baghdad, Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Since 2001, Sgt. Tamez has also been employed with the Kingsville Police Department as a senior officer.

He is scheduled to return to Kingsville at the end of July.

Tamez was the Noncommissioned Officer- In-Charge of the Detainee Transport element in support of the Law and Order Task Force (LAOTF) to the Central Criminal Court of Iraq (CCCI), according to a press release from the United States War Office.

As the NCOIC, Sgt. Tamez was responsible for the manning, welfare and security of 25 soldiers encompassing a minimum outside the wirework schedule of five days per week.

Sgt. Michael Tamez is all smiles and proudly shows off his Bronze Star Medal. “Sgt. Tamez was assigned the detainee transport mission due to his professionalism and civilian law enforcement skill, and he exhibited outstanding leadership and tactical than 178 detainee transport missions within the most volatile areas of Baghdad,” according to military officials.

“Sgt. Tamez’s calm demeanor and skill as a police officer in the civilian world played a vital role in the success of the platoon’s mission, specifically the implementation of a new detainee transport and handling Standard Operating Procedure for the CCCI,” the press statement said.

As a convoy commander, he conducted 178 convoys totaling over 5,000 miles, escorted over 530 detainees, completing all the missions without a single incident, casualty or loss of equipment.

Sgt. Tamez maintained excellent security relations with the Government of Iraq officials, Iraq Police, and multinational security forces all in support of the United States government and the Deputy Commanding General for Iraq, Detainee Operations Mission.

He was also responsible for over 3.1 million dollars’ worth of equipment and his direct oversight of his equipment maintenance yielded an Operation Readiness Rate of 99.8%.

Sgt. Tamez’s mentoring and extensive knowledge of the Enlisted Promotion System resulted in the promotion of one of his Soldiers from Corporal to Sergeant.

While conducting the Detainee Transport mission Sgt. Tamez allowed the junior Non-Commissioned Officers to manage their own element while maintaining constant situational awareness of the actions on the ground.

His effective leadership techniques were directly reflected in the Soldiers who were always willing to execute the mission and had zero disciplinary incidents throughout the deployment.

Sgt.Tamez developed Soldiers through positive counseling, coaching and mentoring, motivating the unit to do the same.

He always encouraged his Soldiers to exceed their personal, professional and spiritual goals.

Sgt.Tamez brought his Soldiers into the band of excellence maximizing their off duty time by enrolling them in Army Correspondence Courses and college courses, netting the completion of over 400 hours of Army correspondence course work.

Additionally, Sgt. Tamez oversaw the training and performance of one of the platoon’s two CREW Specialists and the performance of the Battalion’s only two Master Raven Trainers.

Sgt. Tamez was instrumental in solidifying a sense of cohesion and teamwork within the Non-Commissioned Officer corps with the Company and was instrumental in the accomplishment of the Company training and operational requirements such as the Army Physical Fitness Test.

Under his leadership, his squad set the platoon and company standard for physical training improvement with all squad members meeting the Army height and weight standards, and his squad average on the Army Physical Fitness Test improved by more than 41 points and his squad lost over 155 pounds.

Also, Sgt.Tamez was tasked by the Company Commander to be the lead trainer for the M9 pistol qualification, and in that role, he qualified over 30 soldiers with the M9.

Sgt.Tamez’s actions and those of his squad were crucial to the Platoon’s success during combat operations in Iraq.

His exhibited courage and uncanny ability to make sound decisions under extremely stressful conditions also made him successful and his actions are keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect distinct credit upon himself, the 49th Military Police Brigade, and the United States Army.

The Bronze Star Medal was established on February 4, 1944 as an United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service.

In order to qualify for the award a solider must, while serving in any capacity in or with the Army of the United States after 6 December 1941, distinguish himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, in connection with military operations against an armed enemy; or while participating in aerial flight prior to the establishment of the Air Force as separate from the army; or while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.