State Guardsman receives Special Forces Association Award
July 30, 2012
By W. Thomas Smith Jr.
July 30, 2012
COLUMBIA, SC – MAJ Mike Mika – the assistant operations officer for the S.C. State Guard and a retired Sgt. Maj., U.S. Army Special Forces – received the coveted Special Forces Association (SFA) national Man of the Year award, June 16, during SFA’s annual convention in Fayetteville, N.C.
Major Mika is an extraordinary individual whose extensive military experience in both the infantry and special operations communities has enabled him not only as leader, but a leader-standard in the State Guard, says Maj. Rowland H. Farkas, assistant division operations officer, S.C. State Guard, and a retired U.S. Army infantry officer. It is no wonder he is the recipient of this lofty award from one of the most respected military associations in the world.
SFA is the official association of U.S. Army Special Forces, and MAJ Mika is the association’s chapter pres. for S.C.
Several former and retired U.S. Army Special Forces soldiers serve – or have served – in the S.C. State Guard, including retired State Guard commanders Maj. Gen. F. Eli Wishart and Maj. Gen. John Lenti.
The S.C. State Guard is the all-volunteer state defense force component of the S.C. Military Dept. (SCMD). The SCMD also includes the S.C. Army National Guard, the S.C. Air National Guard, and other elements.
– W. Thomas Smith Jr. is a former U.S. Marine rifle-squad leader and counterterrorism instructor who writes about military/defense issues and has covered war in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. He directs the U.S. Counterterrorism Advisory Team. He is a field-grade officer in the S.C. Military Dept. He is the author of six books, a New York Times bestselling editor, and his articles appear in a variety of publications. Smith’s website is uswriter.com.
