AWARDED DFC: 1
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  OIF
MODEL:  A-10

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major Tyler A. Schultz. By direction of the Secretary of the Air Force, Major Tyler A. Schultz is awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Basic for extraordinary achievement to the United States while participating in aerial flight during the period of 2 May 2017. Major Tyler A. Schultz distinguished himself by extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as A-10 Pilot near Shaddadi, Syria on 2 May 2017. On that date, in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE Major Schultz displayed superior airmanship supporting dire troops in contact situation. As the wingman of a two ship flight into Syria, when the distressing call from a United Stated Joint Terminal Attack Controller came in reporting that his team was surrounded and under intense direct fire, he immediately plotted the friendly location, provided a snap vector to his flight lead, coordinated airspace, and directed the nearest tanker to the closest refueling track. Once overhead, at great risk to himself and his aircraft, he descended through an intense thunderstorm and conducted a how of force over the friendly position, visually identifying the location of the enemy fire. Battling extremely poor visibility in the heavy rain storm, Major Schultz then executed four strafe runs directly into the enemy threat, forcing the enemy to momentarily break contact. With a slight lull in action and low on fuel, his flight lead determined that it was time to refuel, leaving him as the on scene commander of the situation. Shortly thereafter, he visually acquired multiple enemy mortar and heavy machine gun fire points of origin, and without regard for his own safety, and without mutual fighter support, began to strafe enemy positions. After his initial strafe pass, the fire intensified as the enemy was in the midst of their main attack of the day. Barely able to hear the controller's voice due to heavy machine gun fire and explosions on the radio, Major Schultz continued his attacks with an additional four strafe runs through quickly deteriorating visibility, as the rainstorms were intensifying. Within a span of only five minutes, fighting through degraded communication and a very low weather deck with poor visibility, he personally countered the largest wave of the enemy attack on his own, employing 520 rounds of 30 millimeter ammunition on five hostile targets. Subsequently, during the five hour long attack on the United States forces, Major Schultz's calm and collected response under extreme pressure resulted in 82 enemies killed while preserving the lives of over 50 United States personnel with zero casualties. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Major Schultz reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.