Role model: IMA is one of the Air Force's 12 Outstanding Airmen

Two years after the United States launched its global war on terrorism, thousands of reservists are getting off active duty and trying to settle back into their civilian lives.

During the past 24 months, few career fields have been as heavily tasked as security forces. One cop who willingly served his country for 21 months was Staff Sgt. Omar Ali Abed, an individual mobilization augmentee with the 37th Security Forces Squadron, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.

For Abed, the latest activation marked the second time he's been called to active duty as an IMA. The first time was June 1999, just one month after he rejoined the Air Force after a seven-year break in service, for Operation Joint Forge in Bosnia when he was activated for four months.

"After the events of Sept. 11, 2001, there was no surprise I was activated," he said. "In fact, I wanted to get into the ball game."

Like all the other reservists who put their civilian lives on hold to answer the nation's call for help, Abed helped ensure mission success. However, unlike all the others, Abed was recognized for his outstanding accomplishments by being named as one of the Air Force's 12 Outstanding Airman of the Year for 2002.

The sergeant was formally recognized for his accomplishment during the Air Force Association's national convention in Washington, D.C., Sept. 15.

"Omar is a true professional," said Chief Master Sgt. Kevin Reser, 37th SFS security force manager and an IMA. "When the IMAs at Lackland were called to active duty, many people experienced personnel hardships and somber moments over not knowing how long the mobilization would last. Many people were somewhat stunned when we were recalled and told to plan on a two-year mobilization.

"I remember telling Omar to make plans to be on active duty for the next two years. He paused briefly and then came 'back to life,' asking how he could be part of the mission. Throughout the entire time he was activated, he continually would ask me to go TDY wherever he was needed and always wanted to do what he could for the mission."

Even with all the accolades from the chief, Abed said the award is a testament to all reservists who gave of themselves over the last two years.

"My hat is off to all reservists, whether they are guardsman, IMAs or traditional reservists," Abed said. "Each of them left a civilian job and family to be part of the military activation. For airman to be able to juggle all the responsibility is incredible both sociologically and emotionally. But doing so while maintaining the highest standards day in and day out is just incredible."

"I am very proud of Omar and all reservists who played a critical part in this call up," Reser said. "I know that many members in our unit and Air Force Reserve Command are very excited that a reservist was selected as one the 12 Outstanding Airman of the Year.

"Sergeant Abed received an award that he worked hard to get and deserves. I know he will be an outstanding representative for the command, and I expect great things from him in the future."

During the first four months of activation, Abed was sent to Laughlin AFB, Texas, in support of Operation Noble Eagle. As an installation patrolman, he assisted the U.S. Border Patrol and Immigration and Naturalization Service with the apprehension of illegal aliens who were attempting to avoid capture on the base.

After being at Laughlin for four months, Abed volunteered to deploy in support of Operation Fundamental Justice in part because he speaks fluent Arabic and Spanish. He participated in a total of six flights into Afghanistan to transport more than 250 Al Qaeda and Taliban detainees to Camp X-Ray at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

"The first flight was the hardest," Abed said. "I had to realize to basically act as a police officer because these men did bad things. Many of them killed innocent people and stood behind the Muslim religion to justify their actions. But what they did were not religious acts. They need to pay for their actions."

Upon return to the United States, Abed spent four months at McGuire AFB, N.J., working as an installation patrolman before returning to Lackland.

Abed was demobilized in May and returned to his job at an insurance company where he has worked for the last six years as a field property claims adjuster.

While off duty, he volunteers for the local Habitat for Humanity organization and served as a Bexar County juvenile probation officer. In addition, he teaches general educational development classes in mathematics, English, social science, reading and history.

Abed said he hopes being named one of the Air Force's 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year catapults his career to new heights and allows him to experience more of what the Reserve has to offer him through the IMA program. He also has one other desire to fulfill.

"I want to show the youth of the Arab-American community all the good the military represents by being a role model for them," he said.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Air Force Reserves
COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group