Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Technical Sgt. Michael Perolio was awarded the Silver Star medal at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland on July 18.190718-F-GY993-002
                        
                        
                        Tech. Sgt. Michael Perolio, bows his head during prayer before he was presented both the Silver and Bronze Stars, at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, July 18, 2019. Perolio was presented the Silver Star in connection to military operations against an armed enemy in Afghanistan Jan. 11, 2018, during operation Freedom’s Sentinel. Perolio was part of a five-man element of American special operators and partner force representatives conducting key leader engagement with local militia forces. The Bronze Star Medal was presented to him for his service across his Afghanistan employment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Sarayuth Pinthong)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

Special Warfare Airman receives Silver, Bronze Stars for heroism in AfghanistanPublished July 19, 2019
                    
                    By Danielle Knight
                    
                    
                    Special Warfare Training Wing Public Affairs
            **JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas (AFNS) --**In the early morning hours of Jan. 11, 2018, a five-man team set out to conduct a seemingly uneventful and successful key leader engagement in Afghanistan. Over a year later, an Air Force Special Warfare Airman stood in front of a crowd at the Lackland Gateway Club at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, July 18, to be presented with a Silver Star for his actions that secured the safety of his joint and allied partners.Tech. Sgt. Michael Perolio, an assessment and selection instructor assigned to the 350th Special Warfare Training Squadron at JB San Antonio-Lackland was awarded the nation’s third highest medal for his heroic actions in combat during operation Freedom’s Sentinel.The presentation of the Silver Star was hosted by Col. James Hughes, Special Warfare Training Wing commander, and the presiding official of the ceremony was Lt. Gen. Brad Webb, Air Education and Training Command incoming commander. U.S. Army Capt. William Clark, the ground force commander of Perolio’s unit in Afghanistan was a guest speaker at the event.“The Silver Star is a big deal,” Webb said. “Mike is going to join the ranks of some notable Airmen such as Chuck Yeager, Bud Day, Jimmy Doolittle and special warfare operators such as Calvin Markham, Cam Kelsch, (Ishmael) Villegas and Brian Claughsey to name a few.”The citations for both the Silver Star and the Bronze Star Medal were read in front of family, friends and fellow special warfare colleagues. Perolio’s family looked on, tearful and proud as they heard the details about his heroism for the first time.On that early January morning in Afghanistan, Perolio’s actions under dangerous circumstances distinguished himself as a Special Tactics Combat Controller. As his team left the key leader engagement, they were engaged by heavy machine-gun fire from enemy fighters, injuring three members, including Clark. Perolio immediately took charge by treating his wounded comrades. Once he realized that Clark was gravely injured with wounds to the chest and leg, he moved directly into the line of enemy fire to identify the safest route back to friendly lines.Perolio then directed a precision airstrike, killing 12 enemy combatants and completely destroying the heavy machine gun minutes after first contact with no further injury to his team or collateral damage.According to the citation, Perolio’s calm thinking under fire and innate ability to manage a crucial situation allowed two members to receive life-saving medical care within 15 minutes of injury.“(Perolio) is an expert at his job,” Clark said. “He’s everything that you would want from someone standing next to you in a gunfight. Mike and some very talented surgeons are the only two reasons that I’m here today. He got me out of the worst situation that I’ve ever been in and I honestly can’t thank him enough.”In response to receiving the medal, Perolio said he felt humbled.“It’s pretty crazy to have my name etched on that wall of Air Force Silver Star recipients,” he said. “I am honored to be part of that.”Perolio’s current duty is training new recruits that come through the assessment and selection course for the Special Warfare Training Wing. Perolio stressed the influence of what he, as an instructor, can provide to current students.“I take a high ownership of training these (students) to get ready for what’s to come,” he said. “At the end of the day, there’s a lot out there that they will be exposed to, and not every experience is the same...it’s a big responsibility that we have in Air Force Special Warfare.”FS 



Afghanistan 



Air Force Special Warfare Airman 



Silver Star 



350th Special Warfare Training Squadron 



Operation Freedom’s Sentinel 



Air Education and Training Command 



Chuck Yeager 



Bud Day 



Jimmy Doolittle 



Calvin Markham 



Cam Kelsch 



{Ishmael) Villegas 



Brian Claughsey 



Bronze Star Medal Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power CompetitionInnovation
                AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in HawaiiMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil