SPC Robert Brownlee
Photograph and Biography
BIOGRAPHY
SPC Robert Brownlee was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1984. He joined the U.S Army in November of 2002 as a 15U Chinook Repairer. Upon completion of Advanced Individual Training, SPC Brownlee was assigned to C Company, 52 Aviation Regiment at Camp Humphreys, South Korea. As a PFC during this period SPC Brownlee performed as action squad leader on numerous field exercises. After his PCS from Korea he was assigned to D Company, 6-101st Aviation Regiment at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. After a short period in the maintenance platoon, SPC Brownlee was selected, due to his outstanding work ethic and knowledge of the aircraft, for a flight position in B Company. SPC Brownlee deployed as a CH-47D Crew Chief to Iraq in the fall of 2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom IV. He was advanced to the position of Flight Engineer in April of 2007. As a Flight Engineer he went to two JRTC Rotations and two iterations of High Altitude Conditions training at Ft. Carson, Colorado. SPC Brownlee deployed for a second combat tour on 2 January 2008 to Jalalabad, Afghanistan. Since then he has flown over 425 combat hours, participating in over 27 air assault operations, to include Operation Commando Wrath for which he was awarded the Air Medal for Valor. While assigned to B Company he accumulated over 1,000 total flight hours, including 700 plus NVG hours and over 700 combat hours. SPC Brownlee’s awards and decorations include the Air Medal with Valor, the Air Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal (1 OLC).
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
Specialist Robert Brownlee represents the very best that our Army and branch have to offer. He possesses the drive, motivation, and technical competence to succeed at the highest levels. SPC Brownlee is held in the highest esteem by peers and superiors alike. His unremitting devotion to mission accomplishment has earned him the designation as a CH-47D Chinook Flight Engineer-a position normally held by non-commissioned officers. SPC Brownlee is the only Chinook crewmember in the Afghan theater below the rank of sergeant to hold this coveted position. SPC Brownlee truly exemplifies the Army Values in every aspect of his on- and off-duty performance.
SPC Brownlee’s dedication to mission accomplishment, regardless of the conditions, never wavers. While others are relaxing and enjoying their down time, SPC Brownlee can often be found on the flight line, working tirelessly to ensure that his aircraft, crew, and assigned equipment are maintained at the highest state of readiness. Over the past 12 months of sustained combat operations, SPC Brownlee’s assigned aircraft maintained an average mission capable rate of over 79% - a tremendous feat given the extremely high OPTEMPO in this highly kinetic area of operations. His unwavering dedication and professionalism have directly contributed to the successful completion of over 150 combat missions in extremely challenging N2KL (Nangarhar, Nuristan, Konar, and Laghman provinces) area of operations. This severely restrictive terrain consists of over 9,825 square miles (roughly the size of the state of Maryland) of towering mountains, arid deserts, and fertile farmlands. With temperatures ranging from over 120 degrees in the summer months to negative 20 degrees in the winter months, this is undoubtedly the world’s most difficult terrain in which to operate. Despite these conditions, SPC Brownlee performed brilliantly. As a flight engineer, he was responsible for ensuring the safety of over 2,400 passengers as well as the safe rigging and transport of over 800 Tons of critical supplies for U.S. and Afghan forces stationed at some of the most isolated and remote locations in all of Afghanistan. His truly selfless service and willingness to put the mission above all else have made him and undeniable asset to Task Force Out Front.
SPC Brownlee’s personal courage is beyond reproach and, without a doubt, one of his most distinguishing characteristics. He volunteers for every mission, regardless of complexity or person danger. SPC Brownlee was routinely selected to serve as the flight engineer on resupply missions to the highly canalizing Korengal and Kamdesh Valleys. These missions required AH-64D Apache escorts due to the high enemy populations and successful use of small arms and anti-aircraft weapons systems against coalition force lift aircraft (one such event resulted in the shoot-down of a CH-47D from a sister aviation task force early in the deployment). Despite these dangers, SPC Brownlee always maintained a cool demeanor, even in the most dire of circumstances. His ability to remain calm under pressure has a contagious influence on his fellow crewmembers and passengers.
SPC Brownlee’s unrivaled competence resulted in his selection to serve as the flight engineer on the first ever combat Fast Rope Insertion/Extraction System (FRIES) mission in the Afghan theater. His actions on this mission contributed to the successful insertion of 18 TF Out Front Pathfinders, resulting in the recovery of a $1.2 million Persistent Threat Detection System (PTDS) aerostat balloon – a critical theater-level asset. SPC Brownlee’s technical expertise makes even the most dangerous and complicated missions appear routine. On a recent air assault operation, SPC Brownlee led his fellow crewmembers into an extremely hostile landing zone in order to expedite the extraction of a friendly element that had come under heavy small arms and RPG fire. With no regard for his personal safety, SPC Brownlee and his fellow crewmembers exited the aircraft after touching down on the hot landing zone to assist the Special Forces team members with boarding the aircraft. SPC Brownlee’s actions that day resulted in the awarding of the Air Medal with “V” device for his valor in expediting the extraction of this besieged special operations element. His actions during this operation, along with countless others, have earned him the unquestioned respect of our supported ground maneuver elements – whether it be the Solders of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, or the highly trained U.S. and Afghan Special Forces operatives that operate throughout the N2KL.
SPC Brownlee’s knowledge and understanding of the highly complex systems that comprise the CH-47D Chinook have made him an invaluable asset in this multi-functional aviation task force. He was routinely selected by his leadership to serve as the Chinook company representative at the daily Task Force Production Control meetings. His ability to foresee and forecast significant maintenance issues enabled the Task Force to avert potential issues before they arose. As a result, no heavy lift resupply or battlefield circulation mission was ever cancelled due to maintenance. During these past 12 months, SPC Brownlee’s assigned aircraft underwent two phase maintenance inspections in record time, due in large part to his extensive and thorough pre-phase preventive maintenance.
In addition to being an extremely talented flight engineer and junior Soldier, SPC Brownlee also serves as a role model for young Americans in his hometown of Los Alamos, New Mexico. He is frequently asked to speak to students and faculty of his alma mater, sharing his insights and experiences from his two combat deployments. He also speaks frequently at the local Rotary Club, where he discusses his thoughts on patriotism and the true meaning of service. SPC Brownlee is a devoted Soldier and a loyal friend. His comrades know that he can be counted on to lend a helping hand at any time of the day or night, whether it be receiving a late night call to act as a designated driver or driving over 300 miles to help out a friend in need. He is, quite simply, the kind of Soldier that ever leader wants in his formation. His actions over the past 12 month, though seemingly small, have contributed immeasurable to the success of Task Force Out Front. He is truly a credit to himself, this task force, the aviation branch, and the United State Army.
Aviation Soldier of the Year
Robert Brownlee, Specialist
B/6-101st Aviation Regiment, Task Force Out Front
101st Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Assault)
SUMMARY
SPC Brownlee is an exemplary Soldier in every sense of the word. His dedication to the Army, his unit, and the aviation branch are what makes him an outstanding Soldier and junior leader. His ability to motivate his peers in the harshest conditions has earned him the respect of his peers, senior NCOs and task force leadership. SPC Brownlee serves as a CH-47D Flight Engineer and is the only Specialist to hold that position in all of Afghanistan. He has flown over 425 combat hours this year in the most grueling and unforgiving terrain in the world, all of which have been accident and incident free. He has successfully accomplished over 27 Air Assaults and 150 combat missions in the most hazardous and challenging battle space in the Afghanistan AOR. His ability to inspire and mentor his crew members has earned him a spot on the “A” team crew that is selected to fly our most demanding and difficult missions. SPC Brownlee is an extraordinary person, Solider, and junior leader.
Air Medal with Valor
SPECIALIST ROBERT BROWNLEE, United States Army, distinguished himself with exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding achievement as a CH-47D Flight Engineer, assigned to 3rd Platoon, B Co. 6-101 Aviation Regiment, Task Force Out Front, on 6 April 2008 during OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM.
During Operation Commando Wrath, which took place on April 6, 2008, five CH-47Ds gallantly assaulted the Dow Ab valley in the mountainous terrain of the Nuristan Province in Northeastern Afghanistan. The five CH-47Ds assaulted 150 plus Special Forces and Afghani Commando’s into rigorous terrain at the pressure altitude of 8,000 feet to dill or capture a High Value Target. Then enemy threat was high, and the S2 briefed the insurgents would retaliate with RPGs, AK-47s, MANPADS, and other weapons available. SPC Brownlee called the pilots into the tight HLZ, landing the aircraft on snow next to a 300 foot cliff 200 meters shy of the objective in an extremely challenging terrain to enable the Special Forces Teams to complete their mission.
Upon arrival at Jalalabad Airfield, two CH-47Ds were launched as the QRF to immediately re-supply Special Forces into the Dow Ab Valley. More than twenty US and Coalition casualties had been taken into the Dow Ab Valley. Two AH-64s and A-10 aircraft were conducting gun runs on the objective, enabling the ground forces to neutralize and destroy enemy forces. SPC Brownlee was the Flight Engineer who led two CH-47Ds to exfil the Special Forces who fought a vigorous battle for hours. Two miles prior to arrival at the HLZ, the HLZ was declared hot. Intel reported that 50-100 insurgents were making their way south down the valley towards the objective. Both CH-47Ds aircrews calmly replied, “Roger, we’re inbound for landing.” Both aircraft returned once more for an extraction while rounds and bombs were going off in a 360 degree battlefield. During the final extraction, video footage captured by the person in the troop seat shows the lead CH-47 missing an RPG by less than 500 feet.
As a result of SPC Brownlee’s situational awareness and flight endurance, his crew flew greater than six hours during a deliberate assault which led to the capture of eight detainees and the destruction of 25 insurgents. His attention to detail and situational awareness allowed the aircraft to land in an extremely tight and dangerous HLZ. US Special Forces and Afghan Commandos were able to complete their mission due to the dedicated heroism of SPC Brownlee.
Sharon and I in Malawi Africa June 2009
A cold morning up the canyon from Sedona
Bobby's Girlfriend took this picture of the group in Bandelier
