OCR Text |
Show The Total Force Viper March 09, 2006 388th and 419th FIGHTER WINGS IN ACTION Photo by Senior Airman Nathan Greer Photo by Carl Burnett The 388th Fighter Wing commanders and honorary commanders violated the rules of the mess at the 388th FW Annual Awards ceremony Feb. 23, at the Davis Conference Center. As punishment, they must drink from the foul contents of the grog bowl and invert their cups over their heads. Master Sgt. Stephen Sherman, an aircraft ElectroEnvironmental Technician in the 419th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, practices switching a magazine in an M-16 during a weapon's qualifying course held during last month's Unit Training Assembly. Photos by Airman Isi Class Slefanio Torres Senior Airman Jason Tinsley, an avionics specialist with the 34th Fighter Squadron, fills out forms for the fire-control radar systems. Airman Tinsley fills out paperwork while Staff Sgt. Matt Jones, a 34th FS avionics specialist, performs an operational checkout of an FCR. A pilot returns from a successful sortie during the two-week Operational Readiness Exercise. 388th Fighter Wing announces 2005 award winners The 388th Fighter Wing 2005 Annual Awards Banquet was held Feb. 23 to honor a small percentage of the wing's outstanding performers at the Davis Conference Center. Brig. Gen. Stephen Hoog brought the audience to a standing ovation as the designated speaker during the ceremony. He presented all nominees with a medal to wear during the ceremony with the 388th Fighter Wing emblem engraved in it and each winner received an engraved eagle statue. General Hoog delivered his speech before the winners were announced. Company Grade Officer of the Year Capt. Keven Coyle served as a front-line Mission Planning Cell chief testing command and control performance during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was praised for joint efforts by the US Marine Corps C2 commander in Iraq and his unit was the "go-to unit for control" and "best control in Iraq" as stated by USMC and USAF fighter operations offi- r cers. :5 Noncommissioned Officer of the Year Staff Sgt. Matthew Coffey was chosen out of 130 Component Maintenance Squadron noncommissioned officers in charge to be the NCO of the Quarter. He earned the Lt. Gen. Leo Marquez award and performed as a section production supervisor in a technical sergeant position. He returned 678 serviceable line replacement units, which saved $7.6 million. Captain Coyle briefed 14 squadrons during 10 days of travel on combat/civil air operations, spanning Iraq's most densely congested airspace. He was also a standout performer during OREs and conducted a superb assessment of squadron readiness. Capt Coyle learned loading and unloading procedures for transport in a combat zone so Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year Master Sgt. Brett Kolasch assured a smooth transition to Kirkut, Iraq, during his deployment and bedded down 40 Airmen. He led the way for a 190-member deployment. to provide theater air control for Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was the commander's choice to be a detachment superintendent leading Airmen in Iraq. Sergeant Kolasch per- tracked emergency leave for two deployed Airmen. He guided two fighter squadrons while deployed to NelUs AFB and has provided commanders with critical information about Airmen to improve morale for dorm residents. He has implemented Charge of Quarters for the dormitory decreasing law enforcement involvement by 90 percent. Sergeant Coffey was a key performer in the 388th FW, surpassing all ACC maintenance metrics; the first time in 10 years. He also led a six-person deployment for Red Flag operations repairing 78 LRUs saving $686,000. Sergeant Coffey maintained a $70,000 budget as the Base Honor Guard Flight Sergeant and has led more than 80 ceremonies. Airman of the Year Senior Airman Bruner contributed to 1,064 combat sorties in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He has made more than 120 repairs on anti-exposure suits to prevent hypothermia exposure. He has also spent more than 20 hours at the Balad Hospital loading more than 60 injured soldiers and Marines on the medical airlift. Airman Bruner was also a formed first sergeant duties in Iraq and was hand-selected by the maintenance chief for Operation Noble Eagle deployment where he led 71 Airmen. He was the maintenance superintendent for Joint Red Flag at the Nevada Test and Training Range and led 70 Airmen to provide the first joint air control squadron C2/ Army Patriot participation in more than 15 years. CivilfarT of the Year First Sergeant of the Year Master Sgl Derick Clark is the first sergeant for three fighter squadrons, an operational support squadron, operations group, wing staff totaling 220 Airmen. He deployed to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, and eased the transition back from deployment for more than 200 Airmen. He ensured a 24-hour presence at an off-base hospital for a heart attack victim and fast- Categories included: Airman; noncommissioned officer; senior NCO; 1st Sgt; company grade officer; civilian; squadron; instructor pilot; flight lead and wingtnan of the year. The Joan Orr Award and the Lt. Gen. Leo Marquez Award winner was also announced. Mr. Larry Smithee coordinated assignments for 12 target personnel to support Utah Test and Training Range operations. He refurbished and built 300 training targets to support more than 13,600 sorties which dropped more than 12,000 munitions. Mr. Smithee received a letter of recognition from the Director of National Intelligence, John Negroponte, for creating more than 20 tar- gets on short notice that resulted in successful testing of the "Countering Denial and Deception" program. He has managed recovery of more than 11,000 tons of recyclable material and weapon debris and also coordinated ground recovery equipment and plans for NASAs $200 million "STARDUST1 Sample Returns program. key player in moving the fabrication flight to a semi-hardened facility at a deployed location and ensured the flight was 100 percent operational 12 hours ahead of schedule. Airman Bruner helped raise more than $500 through various fundraisers for the 388th Equipment Maintenance Squadron's booster club. |