AWARDED DFC: 1
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  GWOT
MODEL:  MH-53M

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant Sean M. Borland for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as MH-53M Aircraft Commander, Air Force Special Operations Detachment Kandahar, Joint Special Operations Air Component, Special Operations Command Central near Jalalabad, Afghanistan from 26 May 2002 to 28 May 2002. During this period, Lieutenant Borland performed exemplarily as Aircraft Commander of a crew tasked with recovering a MH-53M helicopter that had crashed behind enemy lines in close proximity to territory controlled by elements of the Taliban and Al Qaeda terrorist network. Lieutenant Borland demonstrated exceptional talent in planning the execution phases of the mission. At the objective, despite a volley of harassing mortar fire and a gathering of indigenous personnel of unknown disposition, he assessed the situation and directed the repair of damaged cowlings, probes and replacement of three main rotor blades. With limited repairs complete, Lieutenant Borland and the crew started the aircraft and after a quick controllability check, took off and flew directly to Bagram Air Base. After minimum rest, the crew continued the mission en route to Kandahar under zero illumination and zero visibility making the damaged aircraft extremely challenging to fly. Lieutenant Borland and his crew managed to complete the demanding mission, ensured the retrieval of the damaged aircraft and prevented the catastrophic loss of the aircraft at the hands of hostile forces. Only with superb airmanship were Lieutenant Borland and crew able to endure limitations of the damaged aircraft, navigate through the harsh environmental conditions and land safely. From planning through execution, Lieutenant Borland's tireless effort, ability to improvise and superior piloting and leadership of his crew were absolutely instrumental to mission accomplishment. His valiant performance and tremendous situational awareness under pressure guaranteed success on the first battlefield recovery of an aircraft undertaken by the Air Force since the Vietnam War. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Borland reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.