Captain Arkan's Adventure

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Seidl
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
Altus AFB, Okla. --  Capt. Jutta S. Arkan, a 24-year veteran of the Air Force, received the Air Force Combat Action Medal June 11, 2009 at Altus Air Force Base, Okla. 

Captain Arkan's hometown is Allentown, Penn. She served as an enlisted member of the Air Force before attending Officer Training School in 2000. While assigned to security forces, FE Warren AFB, Wyo., she deployed to Afghanistan in 2005 for a year. During that time,  Arkan came under small arms and improvised explosive device and vehicle based IED fire several times.

In June 2005, as she was supervising the processing of local day workers with the Iraqi Base Defense Unit and U.S. Army personnel when an IED detonated approximately 137 yards from her position. Captain Arkan (then Captain Cortes), secured the area with her soldiers, set up defenses, and collected the wounded Iraqis for treatment.

In August of the same year, she and her soldiers responded to a request for assistance from the Iraqi Army Base Defense Unit who were exchanging small arms fire with insurgents. While the U.S. security forces provided backup to the Iraqi unit, the insurgents broke off the attack.

In September, she volunteered to conduct a highway checkpoint operation 'outside the wire' (in an unsecured area). The mission consisted of searching 100% of all male and female occupants in vehicles passing thru the checkpoint. While closing down the operation, an unknown individual fired a rocket propelled grenade toward them. Immediate return fire from Arkan and others ensued; the suspects escaped, but were captured shortly thereafter and taken into custody.

In December 2005, as vehicle commander for an armed escort of Iraqi soldiers, the convoy came under attack with automatic weapons fire and an IED. They pushed through, and took no injuries. Then, as they approached their destination, a VBIED exploded just after Arkan passed it. The convoy then encountered small arms fire, which they returned.

Captain Arkan says that it's critical to keep your sense of humor and enthusiasm when you're down range. "I was scared to death, but this was the best time of my career. The time flies by. It took me 18 years of service before I went on a real deployment, and I'm looking forward to going back!"

"The best missions are the humanitarian ones, when we visit and bring supplies to schools, women's hospitals, and the Bedouin camps. Young Airmen aren't volunteering for these missions 'outside the wire' and that's a shame because that's where you see the real examples of what we're doing and why it's important. I've dragged people with me on these trips, and when they come back they're glowing and saying 'Wow! I'm so glad I did this!'"

To keep herself busy while deployed, Captain Arkan enjoyed the portable hobby of making gemstone jewelry and bead work. She also learned ballroom dancing, and joined in soccer matches between US and Iraqi forces. If you enjoy reading, "I recommend "Kite Runner," "A Thousand Splendid Suns," "Three Cups of Tea," and "Mayada, Daughter of Iraq" as books that will give you a good sense of what the situation is all about."

When asked about the four incidents that lead to her award of the Air Force Combat Action Medal, she said "Trust your instincts; I could feel when something was out of place, and that led to an attack. Also, there will be adrenaline after the event. Once things were under control and we were back behind the wire, I was shaking and crying; that's ok."

"You have to go as a team, you have to go as a family. You can't be a loner over there; we were physically, mentally, and emotionally close, and I still am with a lot of those guys."