CWO Jacob Sims, of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) died on Friday, October 27th as a result of injuries sustained in a helicopter crash. The crash took place in Logar province, Afghanistan.
Chief Warrant Officer Jacob M. Sims, age 36, was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. The 160th SOAR is also known as the ‘Nightstalkers’. He was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.
According to Resolute Support HQs in Kabul six other service members were injured in the crash and had or were receiving medical treatment. The RS HQs also noted that the aircraft was not downed by enemy fire. The Taliban issued a statement that it had downed the aircraft causing multiple fatalities; which RS HQs quickly denied.
Sims joined the Army in August of 1999. He was assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina as a combat engineer. After completing Warrant Officer Flight Training he was assigned to Fort Wainwright, Alaska to a UH-60 Black Hawk unit. He later (2014) volunteered for the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment and flew MH-47G Chinooks.
He had served on numerous deployments including Afghanistan, Kosovo, and Iraq. His military education includes the Basic Training Course, Advanced Individual Training Course, Basic Airborne Course, Basic Leader’s Course, Air Assault Course, Jump Master Course, Advanced Leader’s Course, Warrant Officer Flight Training, UH-60 Qualification Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (High Risk) Course, CH-47D Qualification Course, Officer Green Platoon, Combatives Level 1 Training Course, MH-47G Qualification Course, Aviation Safety Officer Course, and the Aviation Warrant Officer Advanced Course.
He received numerous awards and decorations to include the Air Medal (with Combat Device), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Achievement Medal (with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters), Joint Meritorious Unit Award (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Meritorious Unit Citation (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Good Conduct Medal (4th Award), National Defense Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal (with 1 Bronze Campaign Star), Iraqi Campaign Medal (with 2 Bronze Campaign Stars), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (2nd Award), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal (3rd Award), Air Assault Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, Sapper Tab, Basic Aviator Badge, and the Combat Action Badge.
Sims was born in Oklahoma on August 13, 1981.
News Articles about CWO Jacob Sims
DoD Identifies Army Casualty, DoD, October 29, 2017.
Soldier killed in crash identified, Army.mil, October 29, 2017
Pentagon identifies soldier killed in Afghanistan helicopter crash, Army Times, October 29, 2017
