Annual awards ceremony evening of cheers

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman David K. Flaherty
  • 452nd Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, CALIF. --  March reservists showed up at the Hap Arnold Club dressed to impress Saturday night for the 2007 Annual Awards Ceremony to represent their squadrons and to root for their fellow coworkers who were nominated for yearly 452nd Air Mobility Wing awards. 

"Tonight's ceremony is a nice break from the real world," said Capt. Lisa Hess, a clinical social worker at the 452nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron who was named the Company Grade Officer of the Year. "It builds morale when you see someone get rewarded for doing their best, especially as we're getting closer to the Operational Readiness Inspection." 

Airmen who were nominated made it through the group--and sometimes squadron-- selection boards where they were asked a series of questions ranging from current events to military knowledge and judged on their conduct and appearance in uniform. 

"By the time we make it this far, we've already gone through two or three boards," said Senior Airman Rene Swift, a health services technician at the 452nd AMDS. "The most challenging part of it was the memory work. I basically had to memorize the whole Airman's Creed in about one week." 

This year's ceremony marked the first time officers were required to go in front of a board to compete for Company Grade Officer of the Year. In the past, officers were only nominated when they submitted an awards package. The change was implemented to increase consistency in the award process, said Chief Master Sgt. Agustin Huerta, the wing's command chief master sergeant. 

"The idea was, let's put both the officers and the enlisted troops on the same process," said CMSgt Huerta. "Everyone deserves to plead their case, and a piece of paper doesn't always do a good job of representing you." 

Chief Huerta spearheaded the change of policy by rewriting March ARB's operational instruction for the Wing Outstanding Company Grade Officer, Senior NCO, NCO and Airman Recognition Program. The original directives were written without specifically addressing officer or first sergeant award nominations. 

To the majority of the officers who were nominated, the change was welcome. 

"Enlisted members go in front of a board, so why shouldn't officers?" said Capt. Robert Simmons, unit deployment manager for the 452nd Aeromedical Staging Squadron, who was nominated for Company Grade Officer of the Year. "Even though you have to study when you go up for one of these things, everything that's covered is basic stuff everyone needs to know as an Airman." 

To help prepare troops for mandatory group and wing boards, more squadrons are selecting award winners by holding practice boards. During this process, first sergeants ask Airmen, who were nominated by their supervisors, questions they could expect during a real board. Airmen can call a time out if they don't know the answer or want to ask a question. Chief Huerta said this selection process plays a huge role in how prepared the Airman will be when they go in front of a board at the group and wing level. 

Senior Master Sgt. Julianna Simmons, the 452nd AMDS non commissioned officer in charge of flight medicine, won senior non commissioned officer of the year. She said she saw significant improvement in her troops when she implemented a mock board at her squadron in August 2006. 

"The medical squadron had historically performed poorly at the wing level," said Sergeant Simmons. "Since we started doing these practice boards, our Airmen have become better prepared when they actually have to face a group or wing board." 

With four troops taking home awards at this year's banquet, the 452nd AMDS had more recipients than any other squadron. 

"Sometimes we feel so bogged down by our day-today work, and we don't always get patted on the shoulder," said Sergeant Simmons. "Awarding those who deserve it really promotes the positive aspects of our job here at March."