Green Beret Killed by Sniper in Afghanistan

Sgt. 1st Class Stephen Cribben, 33, of Simi Valley, California, died Nov. 4 in Logar Province, Afghanistan, as a result of wounds sustained while engaged in combat operations in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel. Cribben was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group, Fort Carson, Colorado. The incident is under investigation.

Cribben was born on Jan. 27, 1984, in Rawlins, Wyoming. He began his military service on Nov. 20, 2002, as a Military Police Officer and attended One Station Unit Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. "We will honor and preserve his legacy. We will cherish, protect and support his Family. Our focus is with them at this time. We will never forget," said 10th Group's commander, Col. Lawrence Ferguson.

SFC Cribben served with the 55th Military Police Company at Camp Page, Korea, from 2003 to 2004; the 716th Military Police Battalion from 2004 to 2010; and USAG Baumholder Provost Marshals Office from 2010 to 2011. In November of 2011, Cribben attended Special Forces Assessment and Selection, and then was selected to attend the Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC). In December of 2014, Cribben graduated SFQC and was assigned to 10th SFG (A) at Fort Carson, Colorado, where he served in the positions of Special Operations Command Forward-NWA Future Plans NCO and then as Senior Communications Sergeant for a Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha.

Cribben deployed three times with the 716th military Police Battalion. He deployed to Egypt in support of Bright Star in 2005, to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2006, and to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2007. Cribben deployed to Afghanistan with 2nd Battalion, 10th SFG (A), in September of 2017.

His military education includes Military Police Advanced Individual Training, Airborne School, Air Assault School, Path Finder School, Emergency Medical Technician-Basic Course, Basic Leader Course, Advanced Leader Course, Senior Leader Course, French Special Operations Language Course, Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape High Risk Course, Communications Sergeant Course, Special Warfare Operational Design Course, Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat Course, Advanced Special Operations Techniques Level II, and the Static Line Jump Master Course.

Cribben's awards and decorations include the Bronze Start Medal, three Army Commendation Medals, nine Army Achievement Medals, a Meritorious Unit Citation, five Army Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon-3, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon-3, NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge, Special Forces Tab, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and Pathfinder Badge.

Article from Army.mil