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Laughlin Airman deploys, comes back a hero

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Blake Mize
  • 47th Flying Training Wing public affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The mission at Laughlin is to train the world's best pilots and deploy mission-ready Airmen. As all who are assigned here know, even though Laughlin is a very small installation by comparison, it is home to some extraordinary Airmen who are instrumental in making sure the mission is completed.

Following a deployment to Afghanistan, one Airman and is being recognized by multiple branches of the military, epitomizing the quality of today's warrior Airmen.

Staff Sgt. Britney Simpson, 47th Security Forces Squadron, who is one of only about 550 enlisted Airmen assigned here, recently returned from a six-month deployment to Bagram Airbase, Afghanistan. While in the area of responsibility with the Army's 101st Airborne Division, Sergeant Simpson saw and did things that Airmen rarely have the opportunity to experience.

"We were involved in a lot of combat-related stuff that a lot of Air Force personnel, especially female personnel, don't really get to do," she said.

However, the Miland, Tenn. native was not the only member of the Air Force family attached to the 101st, which is based out of Fort Campbell, Ky. Sergeant Simpson, who is a dog handler with the 47th SFS, had very reliable company - her canine partner, XXavier.

XXavier, a Belgian Malinois, is an 86-pound Military Working Dog trained in bomb detection.

"He knows how to do his job - he's a good dog. I've trusted him with my life, so we're pretty close. He looks like he's mean but he's really not. He's a sweet teddy bear -- to me anyway," Sergeant Simpson said as she lit up with a glow of obvious admiration for her partner.

Although he may not scare Sergeant Simpson, XXavier is an intimidating presence. He is often included in the demonstrations put on by the 47th SFS canine section that show what the highly-trained dogs assigned here are capable of. He is known to hit with a particularly intense amount of force when allowed to chase down and tackle those brave enough to be included in the show.

That fact, as well as the size difference between XXavier and his handler, which is not substantial, makes what the two of them were able to accomplish that much more impressive.

"He was a little hard to handle at first," she admitted. "But once he realized that I wasn't going anywhere and he had to listen to me, we figured each other out."

Sergeant Simpson's cohesion with her dog was imperative because she must have complete control of her partner while trusting him completely in order to complete their mission of finding and identifying improvised explosive devices and caches.

"XXavier and I would go out on patrols to look for IEDs and caches. During that time, we'd get in situations where the Taliban would start shooting at us and try to ambush us," she said.

The duo's bravery proved to be very beneficial for their fellow military members. They were able to safely identify four IEDs and a homemade explosives cache that very well may have threatened their lives and the lives of those in their unit.

"Finding the actual IEDs was the most rewarding part because then people don't die. It saves lives. It's a good feeling - scary, but good," Sergeant Simpson said. "We find the bombs so people don't find them with their feet."

The Laughlin Airman's success and bravery under fire has not gone unnoticed. Since her return, she has been awarded the Joint Services Commendation Medal, the Air Force Combat Action Medal and the Army Combat Action Badge. She has also been submitted for entry into the latest edition of the Air Force's Portraits in Courage, which highlights some of the more compelling stories throughout the Air Force.

"Throughout my military career I've never really been one to get recognized," she said. "I just do my job."

It's a job that she obviously does very well and has a real passion for, which was shown during this deployment.

"My attitude changed before any of this. I was going to get out of the military until I was able to become a dog handler," she said. "So I already loved my job before I went on this deployment, but it made me love my job even more."

I can think of a few Soldiers who are probably pretty happy she changed her mind.