John I Gavlick
Rank: Unknown
Entered Into Eternal Rest
2001-08-02
Joshua “Gav” Gavulic was born on August 5, 1979. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on June 10, 1998, and after completing basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas, he attended the Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) Apprentice Course at Hulburt Field, Florida, and the Combat Survival Training Course at Fairchild AFB, Washington.
His first assignment was as a Brigade Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) Operator with the 11th Air Support Operations Squadron (ASOS) at Fort Hood, Texas, from April 1999 to December 2005; where he was then assigned to the 17th ASOS as a Ranger Company Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC), and later as a Ranger Reconnaissance Company JTAC. In 2012, MSgt Gavulic assumed duties as the 17th ASOS Weapons and Tactics Flight Chief and Chief of Standardization and Evaluation.
In 2013, he was promoted to the position of 17th ASOS Operations Superintendent. On February 21st, 2014, MSgt Gavulic was killed in a parachute accident while conducting a military free-fall proficiency training jump at a drop zone in Eloy, Arizona.
During the War on Terrorism, MSgt Gavulic deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom 10 times between 2001 and 2014, and he completed the U.S. Army Airborne School, US Army Military Free fall School, US Army Static Line Jumpmaster Course, US Army Military Free Fall Jumpmaster Course, US Army Pathfinder School and US Army Ranger School; to name just a few. He was buried at the Fort Mitchell National Cemetery in Fort Mitchell, Alabama on 3 March 2014. MSgt Gavulic is survived by his wife Alyssa, and their six children.
