AFMC Command News

AFMC announces enlisted annual award winners

  • Published
  • By Kathleen A.K. Lopez
  • Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs
DAYTON, Ohio --  It had the makings of a Hollywood awards show - bright lights, red carpet, video clips, a live band, a sit-down dinner and attendees dressed to the nines. But this event also included a color guard, saber arch and a static collection of attack, bomber, cargo, fighter and experimental aircraft hanging from the ceiling and sitting on the ground.

This was no Hollywood production. It was the Air Force Materiel Command's 2006 Annual Enlisted Awards Banquet, held at the National Museum of the United States Air Force on March 30. The evening culminated a week spent honoring the command's outstanding Airmen, noncommissioned officers, senior NCOs and first sergeants for 2006.

Recently promoted Staff Sgt. Casey M. Medders, Technical Sgt. Billy D. Tramel Jr., Senior Master Sgt. Alphonso Thompson and Master Sgt. Robin M. Brooks were selected from 40 nominees as the very best in their respective categories.

"Tonight we are fortunate enough to identify those who represent all of us, but whose performance has highlighted them, their service and their potential above many of their peers," said Gen. Bruce Carlson, AFMC commander. "We are each better for knowing them, associating with them and serving by their sides."

A shocked Sergeant Medders, accompanied by his wife, Shelly, was named AFMC Airman of the Year. He is assigned to the 653rd Combat Logistics Support Squadron, Robins Air Force Base, Ga. The depot-level crew chief performs depot-level maintenance on both the C-5 Galaxy and C-17 Globemaster. He has been an assistant crew chief, flying crew chief and dedicated crew chief for the C-5, and has deployed numerous times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"There were extraordinary people in my category who are doing extraordinary things," exclaimed a grinning Sergeant Medders. "I expected one of them to be walking to the stage. This is such a privilege."

Sergeant Tramel, AFMC NCO of the Year, is the Fire Suppression Section NCO, 75th Civil Engineering Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah. He returned from a seven-month deployment to Iraq on March 24 - just enough time for him and his wife, CC, to pack their bags for Ohio.

"These people are some of the best out there," he said about the competition. "There are so many candidates who I'd have had no problem if they had won. I am so honored just to have made it here."

Sergeant Thompson, AFMC Senior NCO of the Year, is the squadron superintendent, 66th Security Forces Squadron, Hanscom AFB, Mass. He is the chief advisor to the commander on enlisted matters for 150 active-duty and individual mobilization augmentees.

"This is incredible," said Sergeant Thompson, accompanied by his "rock" and wife, Senior Master Sgt. Ginger Thompson. "No one can ever expect to be recognized at this level and it is awesome. Unimaginable."

Sergeant Brooks, AFMC First Sergeant of the Year, is the First Sergeant for the 377th Mission Support Squadron, 377th ABW, Kirtland AFB, N.M. She is responsible for advising the commander about the well-being of more than 135 enlisted members and their families.

"I am shocked," said a beaming Sergeant Brooks about winning her category. "I never imagined that I'd come to the banquet and win. Everyone nominated is at the top of their game. I am just so proud to represent Kirtland."

In addition to their sheer joy, if not shock, at being selected at command-level as the best in their respective categories, the winners all had two other things in common. First, they credited their supervisors and leadership at their home bases for getting them to this point, as well as their spouses. Second, they had a much better appreciation for their peers, having spent the past week with them.

"We bring in nominees and their spouses, if they're married, for the week of the awards banquet," said Chief Master Sgt. Jonathan E. Hake, the command chief master sergeant for AFMC. "It's an educational week, in terms of briefings for nominees and spouses on things like deployments, assignments and benefits. But, it also is a week of camaraderie and networking, with activities on base and in the community."

Sergeant Brooks, whose husband, Senior Master Sgt. Robert Brooks, accompanied her, enjoyed networking with her peers.

"The week was phenomenal," she said. "We had briefings ranging from the Junior Force Council to the new force-shaping policy and everything in between. There was so much information we can take back to our bases and share."

Sergeant Tramel agreed.

"The week here was outstanding," he said. "The briefings were educational, and the speakers impressive. All of us are professionals and we really got to know each other. My wife was able to be part of this, and she learned so many more things about the Air Force."

The command's "Top Four" will represent AFMC in the United States Air Force 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year and First Sergeant of the Year competitions, Chief Hake said. The 12 Airmen will be recognized at the Air Force Association Convention in September in Washington D.C. The First Sergeant of the Year will be recognized at the Air Force Sergeants' Association Annual Convention this summer in Phoenix.