SFC Dustin B. Ard

29 August 2019, Afghanistan

Special Forces

A native of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Sergeant First Class Dustin B. Ard died from wounds received in action on 29 August 2019 while supporting Operation FREEDOM’S SENTINEL in Zabul Province, Afghanistan.

Ard enlisted in the Army as a Special Forces Candidate in 2011. After completing Infantry One Station Unit Training and Airborne at Fort Benning, Georgia, he attended the Special Forces Qualification Course at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He completed the course in 2015, and was assigned as a Special Forces Communications Sergeant in 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. Ard’s deployments included Indonesia and Operation FREEDOM’S SENTINEL.

SFC Ard was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, when he was fatally wounded during combat operations.