[Fort Campbell, Kentucky] – Eric Cruz, President of Cruz Associates, Inc., recently awarded the Night Stalker Association’s Three-Five Gas and Guns Maintainer of the Year Award  to Staff Sergeant Brandon Bates from Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) 1-160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) (SOAR(A)).  This award is presented annually to a 160th SOAR(A) Soldier serving in an Armorer, POL, Armament or Ammunition Handler position who has made an outstanding individual contribution to Special Operations during the previous calendar year.  As a unit Jumpmaster, SSG Bates led multiple airborne Forward Arming and Refueling Point (FARP) operations and executed a non-standard FARP in a combat zone.  As POL section sergeant, he managed over 20 fuelers and regularly volunteered to train sister battalions on A/MH-6 refueling.  His leadership during six major Special Operations events and his combat-proven expertise highlights his immense value as a leader, soldier, and airborne professional in the Special Operations community.  We, at Cruz, are proud to be associated with this humble hero, and we wish him and his family the very best.