AWARDED DFC: 1
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  GWOT
MODEL:  F-15E

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Michael W. Benitez for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as F-15E Instructor Weapon Systems Officer, 492d Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, 380th Expeditionary Operations Group, 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates on 21 May 2014. On that day, Captain Benitez led two F-15Es responding to a troops in contact situation in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in Afghanistan. An Army platoon had been ambushed by 15 insurgents hidden in a cave complex. The platoon had sustained injuries and was unable to retreat. Due to the ferocity of the firefight, the Joint Terminal Attack Controller and the ground commander were unable to articulate the positions of all friendly elements despite the presence of a B-1B, an air weapons team, and a scout weapons team. For more than 40 minutes, Captain Benitez patiently pulled the information from the Joint Terminal Attack Controller and used superior crew coordination with his pilot to locate all friendly positions. Ultimately, Captain Benitez used his targeting pod to accurately place two 500 pound bombs as close as possible to the platoon without endangering friendlies. He destroyed the enemy fighting position allowing the platoon to safely fallback and recovered the wounded soldiers by helicopter, ultimately saving American lives. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Benitez reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.