MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Not many people train for dozens of hours to earn the certification to fly; fewer take a different path and join the military; only five are hand selected from hundreds of qualified pilots in the military to receive an exceptional pilot award.
Capt. Alexis Paschedag, a UH-1Y “Huey” helicopter pilot, is one such Marine who received the Order of Daedalians’ 2009 Exceptional Pilot Award.
The Daedalians, a society of pilots which has been around since World War I, give an award to one pilot from each branch of service every year. The order selects pilots based on exceptional deeds performed to assure mission success, acts of valor as an aviator or an extraordinary display of courage or leadership in support of air operations.
Paschedag received the award based on her actions while deployed with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, which was the first full light-attack squadron to deploy to Afghanistan. She helped successfully employ the first UH-1Y helicopters to the country.
“I feel incredibly honored to receive this award,” said Paschedag. “I don’t feel like it was as much of an individual accomplishment, but an accomplishment of what we did as a squadron.”
Paschedag was nominated by her squadron. She competed against other pilots selected from squadrons under the command of MAG-39. The group then nominated her to represent it against other groups across the Marine Corps.
“She wanted to receive this with the people she deployed with,” said Lt. Col. Michael Borgschulte, the commanding officer of HMLA-367. “It’s one of our teammates winning an award. That’s pretty special. It meant a great deal to me and to the squadron.”
The squadron is a group of fantastic Marines, explained Paschedag. Everyone is part of a team and succeeds as a team.
For winning the award, Paschedag received a bronze trophy and a membership into the Order of the Daedalians. As a part of the order, she will be counted among pilots from WWI through today’s pilots.
“I could not be more proud of all my pilots and air crew,” said Borgschulte. “This is a testament to the level of quality we have at this squadron. I’m very proud.”
For her dozens of flights and time spent away from home, Paschedag earned the right to be one of the few people who receive the Daedalians’ award. Her achievement stands as a testament to her dedication, as well as her squadron’s.
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