Sgt. 1st Class Dustin Ard, a Green Beret from 1st Special Forces Group, died from wounds sustained during combat operations in Zabul Province, Afghanistan on Thursday, U.S. Army Special Operations Command has confirmed. SFC Ard was on a joint operation with a unit of Afghan commandos when he died. The details of his death have not been released.
Born in Idaho Falls, Idaho, on Oct. 4, 1987, SFC Ard enlisted in the Army in Hyde Park, Utah in 2011, as a Special Forces candidate through the 18X program, according to Lt. Col. Loren Bymer, a USASOC spokesman, in a media release. SFC Ard was assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina and attended Special Forces Assessment and Selection and graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2015.
He was then assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st SFG (A) at Joint Base Lewis–McChord, Washington, as a Special Forces communications sergeant. SFC Ard’s military education includes the Basic, Advanced, and Senior Leader Courses; U.S. Army Airborne School; Military Free Fall Course; Special Operations Joint Terminal Attack Controller Course; Special Operations Sensitive Site Exploitation Course; Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape School; Korean Special Operations Language Course; and the Special Forces Qualification Course.
SFC Ard’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal; Army Achievement Medal; Army Good Conduct Medal (second award); National Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal (Campaign Star); Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (third award); Army Service Ribbon; NATO Medal; Army Special Forces Tab; Combat Infantry Badge; Parachutist Badge and Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge.
SFC Ard, 31, leaves behind a young daughter and his wife, who is pregnant with a second child.
Rest easy Brother
DOL
~S~
Born in Idaho Falls, Idaho, on Oct. 4, 1987, SFC Ard enlisted in the Army in Hyde Park, Utah in 2011, as a Special Forces candidate through the 18X program, according to Lt. Col. Loren Bymer, a USASOC spokesman, in a media release. SFC Ard was assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina and attended Special Forces Assessment and Selection and graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2015.
He was then assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st SFG (A) at Joint Base Lewis–McChord, Washington, as a Special Forces communications sergeant. SFC Ard’s military education includes the Basic, Advanced, and Senior Leader Courses; U.S. Army Airborne School; Military Free Fall Course; Special Operations Joint Terminal Attack Controller Course; Special Operations Sensitive Site Exploitation Course; Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape School; Korean Special Operations Language Course; and the Special Forces Qualification Course.
SFC Ard’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal; Army Achievement Medal; Army Good Conduct Medal (second award); National Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal (Campaign Star); Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (third award); Army Service Ribbon; NATO Medal; Army Special Forces Tab; Combat Infantry Badge; Parachutist Badge and Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge.
SFC Ard, 31, leaves behind a young daughter and his wife, who is pregnant with a second child.
Rest easy Brother
DOL
~S~