Sgt. Brian D. Follmer, a native of Benton, Pa., was recently awarded the Bronze Star Medal in a ceremony conducted at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Engineer Research and Development Center’s (ERDC) Topographic Engineering Center (TEC) in Alexandria, Va. This is Follmer’s second Bronze Star Medal award. ERDC Commander Col. Richard B. Jenkins presented the medal.
Follmer, a geospatial analyst, is a member of TEC’s Military Support Team. He serves as an operator, maintainer and trainer for the Buckeye Imagery Sensor and Ground Processing Station. His citation read, "For exceptionally meritorious service as the noncommissioned officer in charge and airborne sensors operator of the Buckeye aerial detection sensor team during combat operations in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom from Feb. 26 to July 18, 2006. Sergeant Follmer assisted many of the deployed geospatial engineering teams at the Brigade Combat Team and division levels by ensuring their systems were set-up properly, delivering geospatial information, and providing refresher training and advanced software applications. Sergeant Follmer also assisted the Gulf Region North District with the relocation and installation of several satellite dishes to support the district headquarters move forward Operating Base Courage to contingency Operating Base Speicher."
Follmer served in the Gulf Region Division from July 2004 to January 2005; provided support to the 1/25 th Stryker Brigade Combat Team from April to September 2005; and deployed in support of the 101St Airborne Division (Air Assault) from Feb. 26 to July 18, 2006. His other assignments include Fort Knox, Ky.; Fort Hood, Texas; and Camp Hovey, Korea.
Previously, Follmer was awarded the Combat Action Badge for an action which occurred July 2005 when an aircraft he was aboard came under small arms fire during a mission in Mosul, Iraq. He is also the recipient of the Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters; the Army Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters; the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; and the Iraq Campaign Medal. In 2005, Follmer received the ERDC Award for Excellence in Operational Support, the TEC Director’s Award for Operational Support and he was TEC’s Soldier of the Year in 2004 and 2005.
The ERDC is the premier research and development facility for the Corps of Engineers. It consists of seven laboratories at four geographical sites, with more than 2,000 employees, $1.2 billion in facilities, and an annual research program approaching $700 million. It conducts research in both military and civil works mission areas for the Department of Defense and the nation.
Release no. 13-017