Sergeant Kenneth R. Rick, a former squad leader with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, is scheduled to receive the Silver Star Medal, the nation's third highest award for heroism, from Lt. Gen. John A. Toolan, I Marine Expeditionary Force commanding general, during a ceremony at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Feb. 18. Three fellow Marines with the battalion will also be awarded medals for valor. Rick deployed to Helmand province, Afghanistan in 2012. On June 22 and 23, after completing an air assault into Qaleh-Ye Gaz, Rick and his squad were attacked from multiple positions by medium machinegun and indirect fire. Rick subjected himself to the enemy fire four times to employ his M4 Carbine and M203 grenade launcher accurately while directing the maneuver of his squad. By his leadership, his squad provided devastating fires on the enemy, forcing their immediate withdrawal. Later that day, with complete disregard for his own safety, Rick left cover and ran out of the patrol base, covering 200 meters of open ground to lead a security team and recover a mortally wounded Marine. Though enemy rounds impacted within feet of his position as the security team maneuvered to the patrol base, Rick calmly directed the fire of the squad. He remained outside the patrol base, suppressing the enemy until all of his Marines were safely inside. Rick later led his squad to counter a complex ambush. The precision fire he employed from his grenade launcher destroyed two enemy fighters and directed close air support aircraft onto their targets, ultimately leading to the destruction of the enemy.