Skip to Main Content

Estonian Air Force pilots receive highest MDNG state award

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”2142″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css_animation=”fadeIn”][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1500648263544{margin: 0px !important;border-width: 0px !important;padding: 0px !important;}”]By Staff Sgt. Michael E. Davis Jr., Maryland National Guard Public Affairs Office[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeIn”]Capt. Rene Kallis and Capt Martin Noorsalu, both members of the Estonian Air Force and previous Estonian exchange officers in the Maryland Army National Guard’s 29th Combat Aviation Brigade, were presented with the Maryland National Guard Distinguished Service Cross. They also conducted their last flight with the Maryland Army National Guard at Weide Army Air Field in the Edgewood area of Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, on Aug. 12, 2014.

The MDDSC is the highest MDNG state award and was presented to Kallis and Noorsalu for their loyal and distinguished service with the 29th CAB. They have been assigned to the 29th CAB for the past three years and will return back to Estonia next month.

Over the course of the three years of service with the MDNG and the 29th CAB, Kallis and Noorsalu accomplished many notable achievements.

They quickly gained the knowledge and skills to serve as UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter pilots in preparation, then later deployment, with C Co., 1st Battalion, 169th General Support Aviation Battalion (Air Ambulance) to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. They participated in every major 29th CAB training event serving as UH-60 pilots flying support missions.

They also became the first Estonian Air Force pilots to deploy as aviators with a U.S. Army unit to a combat theater. They deployed with C Co., 1-169th GSAB on its historic deployment supporting OEF, the Helmand Province in Afghanistan where they flew over 28 combat hours. They personally flew or were part of the aircrew on more than 20 medical evacuation missions, saving the lives of U.S., Afghan, and other coalition forces in a hostile combat environment.
Kallis and Noorsalu flew over 230 UH-60 hours with the Maryland Army National Guard. They interacted daily with members of the 29th CAB and overwhelmingly broadened each and every Soldier’s appreciation of Estonia and our ability to work with other NATO partners.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_raw_html]JTNDYSUyMGRhdGEtZmxpY2tyLWVtYmVkJTNEJTIydHJ1ZSUyMiUyMGRhdGEtaGVhZGVyJTNEJTIydHJ1ZSUyMiUyMCUyMGhyZWYlM0QlMjJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnd3dy5mbGlja3IuY29tJTJGcGhvdG9zJTJGbWRuZyUyRmFsYnVtcyUyRjcyMTU3NjQ2NDA1Njc0Mzc2JTIyJTIwdGl0bGUlM0QlMjJFc3RvbmlhbiUyMHBpbG90cyUyMHJlY2VpdmUlMjBoaWdoZXN0JTIwTURORyUyMHN0YXRlJTIwYXdhcmQlMjIlM0UlM0NpbWclMjBzcmMlM0QlMjJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRmZhcm02LnN0YXRpY2ZsaWNrci5jb20lMkY1NTc2JTJGMTQ3Mjk5NzgwNThfMDY2N2I1N2U2YV9iLmpwZyUyMiUyMHdpZHRoJTNEJTIyMTAyNCUyMiUyMGhlaWdodCUzRCUyMjY4MCUyMiUyMGFsdCUzRCUyMkVzdG9uaWFuJTIwcGlsb3RzJTIwcmVjZWl2ZSUyMGhpZ2hlc3QlMjBNRE5HJTIwc3RhdGUlMjBhd2FyZCUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRmElM0UlM0NzY3JpcHQlMjBhc3luYyUyMHNyYyUzRCUyMiUyRiUyRmVtYmVkci5mbGlja3IuY29tJTJGYXNzZXRzJTJGY2xpZW50LWNvZGUuanMlMjIlMjBjaGFyc2V0JTNEJTIydXRmLTglMjIlM0UlM0MlMkZzY3JpcHQlM0U=[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row]