FRCSE pilot earns Bronze Star for IA service in Iraq

His tactical and technical efforts to implement direct radio command and control between Route Clearance (RC) teams on the ground and the military aircraft supporting from above were relentless. Conover's innovative solutions to detect and suppress enemy Radio Controlled Improvised Explosive Devices (RCIED) saved American lives on the battlefield.

Twice an alternate Individual Augmentee (IA), Conover knew he might be called up one day. That call came while he was serving as the class desk officer at Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), Patuxent River, Md. He possessed the unique skill-set needed for this assignment owing to his strong aviation background.

He graduated from the Naval Academy in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aerospace Engineering and earned a Master of Science Degree in Aviation Systems from the University of Tennessee Space Institute in 2006.

To prepare him to deploy combat ready, Conover attended the Navy Individual Augmentation Combat Training (NIACT) at Fort McCoy, Wisc. in April 2008.

He reported to Joint Counter Radio Electronic Warfare (JCREW) Composite Squadron One (JCCS-1) in Bagdad, Iraq in May. The unit's mission was to integrate and synchronize electronic warfare and JCREW operations for coalition forces.

As the primary EW officer for nine months, Conover was involved in every aspect of the mission. He ensured the Brigade maintained critical EW coverage for its tactical vehicles, which cleared more than 196,000 kilometers of rugged terrain in Northern Iraq.

His leadership enabled soldiers and Marines to conduct combat operations in the safest and most effective manner possible against an elusive enemy.

"We neutralized the RCIED threat to Army and Marine Corps ground units by ensuring supply routes were cleared. Our vehicles were specifically designed and better equipped to clear IEDs," he said.

These vehicles outfitted with onboard systems to prevent IED detonations have a proven track record of reducing casualties through EW Coordination and JCREW operations.

Operating in areas considered to be hotbeds of enemy activity, the 18th Engineer Brigade moved among three locations: Contingency Operations Base (COB) Speicher near Tikrit, Forward Operating Base (FOB) Warrior at Kirkuk, and FOB Marez near Mosul. "We didn't stay in one spot very long. We moved around the country a lot," he said.

While assigned to the Brigade, Conover gained a greater appreciation for the Army, its mission and the soldiers who endured many hardships. To see him through the long months of isolation and loneliness, Conover relied on his strong faith in God. "I was reminded of the Old Testament, Psalm 139 how it says God's thoughts for us outnumber the grains of sand. Well, I saw a lot of sand," he mused.

Conover also enjoyed the Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) tents where troops could relax and play ping pong or watch movies and see the occasional concert hosted by the USO.

He appreciated the efforts of a volunteer group in his parent's home town of Payson, Arizona, who supported deployed troops by sending monthly care packages to the desert.

"I shared them with the Brigade staff, which made me very popular," he recalled.

Conover came home in November 2008 halfway through his tour for a two-week break with wife Becki and their four young children. "It was pretty tough," he said. "I feel like I lost 2008, everything from the school year, holidays, birthdays and our wedding anniversary. Life is kind of gapped."

Nevertheless, many Sailors returning from IA tours say they feel a greater sense of accomplishment thanks to their work overseas. Conover is no exception. He said, "Bottom line, we were saving lives. You could see it in the numbers. We were preventing casualties from IEDs."

FRCSE Commanding Officer Paul Sohl, who had never before had the honor of pinning a Bronze Star, was privileged to present the medal to his friend and fellow F/A-18 Hornet pilot.

He said, "Mitch did his job in order for our soldiers and Marines to do theirs. It was a personal sacrifice on his part and a sacrifice on his family's part."

The pinning ceremony took place in the FRCSE F/A-18 Hornet hangar as Conover's family, friends and co-workers looked on. Conover credits his successful tour to the support of his family.

IA Sailors and their families are an integral part of the Navy and mission success in overseas contingency operations. Conover's wife, Becki, said, "I'm glad it's over. It was a tough road, but we made it. He never shares much of what he did over there, but I'm very proud of him."

AMCS(AW) Christopher Leech was among the crowd to witness Conover receive the prestigious medal. It was a first for Leech to see a Bronze Star awarded. "I think everyone who goes over there should be recognized in some way," he said.

Leech is the command's senior enlisted advisor and serves as the FRCSE Command IA coordinator. He is responsible for tracking and communicating with deployed IAs.

"E-mail is a wonderful thing," he said. "Everybody we send over to the desert, Africa, wherever, they need to know we are taking care of them." During his IA tour, Conover, a junior commander, negotiated orders to FRCSE as the F/A-18 product officer. It afforded him the opportunity to fly again and also experience the production side of aviation.

"This is my first production tour and it is really broadening my horizons," he said.

His experiences at the Program Manager Office, with a Test and Evaluation Squadron and now in production are expanding his professional insight and opening up new opportunities. "You miss the boat if you don't get that experience early enough in your career," he said.

Thanks to the dedicated service of Conover and other IAs who are diligently serving in overseas contingency operations missions, the Navy is expanding its contributions to the joint force around the globe.

Conover's actions as described in his commendation contributed "immeasurably to the success of building a free and democratic nation for the citizens of Iraq and to the efforts to win the global war on terrorism."

The Bronze Star Medal is awarded to military members who distinguish themselves by heroic acts or meritorious service while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States.

As of Sept. 11, about 47 percent of Navy personnel serving on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan are IAs. Since 2002, 2,124 IA Sailors serving around the globe have earned the Bronze Star.