Wing's Annual Awards Ball - 'Service Before Self' proves fun for all

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Meredith Mingledorff
  • 349th Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Chocolate flowed from a fountain as guests flowed into the ballroom at the Delta Breeze Club here Oct. 21.
The glamorous event was the first 349th Air Mobility Wing Awards Ball hosted by Brig. Gen. Thomas M. Gisler, Jr., 349th Air Mobility Wing commander and sponsored by the 349th AMW Company Grade Officers' Council.
The festivities began at 6 p.m. as finely dressed guests arrived to enjoy the social hour before dinner. As others mingled, award nominees met with Chief Master Sgt. Rodney J. McKinley, Command Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force.
The evening honored annual award winners from across the wing with an elegant ceremony attended by 350 service-members, guests, and Department of Defense civilians.
The Honor Guard opened the festivities with an impressive sword cordon to welcome the official party. With flawless uniforms and precision timing the detail posted the colors before honoring our men and women who are missing in action and prisoners of war. The moving ceremony was done with pride and dignity. In a darkened room, attendees bowed their heads to honor those missing from all five branches of the United States military.
As the lights came up, the 349th Wing members welcomed distinguished visitors from the 60th Air Mobility Wing, including Col. Steve Arquiette, 60th Air Mobility Wing commander; Col. Thomas J. Sharpy, 60th AMW vice commander; Chief Master Sgt. Michael M. Williams, 60th AMW command chief.
The 349th was honored to welcome Chief Master Sgt. Jackson A. Winsett, Air Force Reserve Command command chief and Chief Master Sgt. Kenneth A. Mitchell, 4th Air Force command chief. As well as other distinguished guests, including the Honorable Harry T. Price, Mayor of Fairfield and his wife Betsy; and Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Dale Baumler, former 349th AMW and 4th Air Force commander.
Maj. Gen. Robert E. Duignan, 4th Air Force commander, was the event's guest speaker. He thanked the men and women in uniform as well as their family and friends for their many sacrifices.
"We can't do our jobs without you," said General Duignan to the family members in attendance. "Every single one of you is very important and we can't win this war without you. We have to win this battle!"
General Duignan stressed the importance of training and personal readiness.
"Leadership opportunities are there for everybody," he said. "Develop these skills as early as you can so we can figure out where we're going. You can't wait until a situation is on you to know what you're gonna do."
"We do what we do so that the rest of the American public can do what they do. Don't ever forget that," said General Duignan.
Following General Duignan's remarks, General Gisler, took the stage to thank General Duignan for his words of wisdom and reiterated the importance of our men and women in uniform.
"These award winners are just a few of the outstanding individuals we have in our wing," said General Gisler. "Individuals such as these and their counterparts in the workplace are the reason we are all winners! Nobody does it alone, recognition is important, so take care of your people!"
Two armed guards then came bursting through the doors with guns drawn and wearing protective vests. A briefcase, handcuffed to a guard's wrist was unlocked and handed over to Capt. Samuel T. Dickson, Master of Ceremonies and commander, 349th Security Forces Squadron.
"We have kept the names of the award winners under tight lock and key," joked, Captain Dickson.
Joined by Chief Master Sgt. Patricia A. Thornton, 349th command chief, General Gisler presented each of the wing's seven annual awards:
-349th Annual Look Sharp Award winner in the officer category was, Capt. Susan Labrecque, 349th AMW.
-349th Annual Look Sharp Award winner in the enlisted category was, Senior Airman Geoffrey D. Henry, 82nd Aerial Port Squadron.
-349th Airman of the Year Award winner was Senior Airman Andrew L. Haydon, 349th Medical Squadron.
-349th Noncommissioned Officer of the Year Award winner was Staff Sgt. Todd W. Morrow, 349th Security Forces Squadron.
-349th Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year Award winner was Master Sgt. Dianne L. Valdez, 312th Airlift Squadron.
-349th First Sergeant of the Year Award winner was Senior Master Sgt. Randel E. White, 45th Aerial Port Squadron.
-349th Company Grade Officer of the Year Award winner was Capt. Loren L. Hanks, 349th Operations Support Flight.
General Gisler and Capt. Clarissa Tuttle, 349th Company Grade Officers' Council president, presented a gift basket to General Duignan to thank him for taking time out of his hectic schedule to speak with our wing members.
General Gisler then pointed out what an outstanding job the Company Grade Officers' Council did in sponsoring the event and thanked Captain Tuttle, 349th AMW Military Equal Opportunity; Capt. Michelle Bonilla, 349th AMW Performance Planner; and 1st Lt. Robin M. Jackson, 349th AMW Public Affairs, for their hard work and dedicated service.
With that, the commander invited everyone to stay for dancing and music provided by Travis' very own Band of the Golden West's rock group, "Mobility." Guests danced until well after midnight.
As the evening came to a close and Col. Robert K. Millmann, 349th AMW vice commander had twisted his way to a perfect 'Physical Training' score; the band began to pack up. The Company Grade Officers' Council stayed to clean up the aftermath of the very event they had put so many months of planning into. Captains Tuttle, Bonilla and Lieutenant Jackson sat for a moment and reflected with tired grins.
Nearly one o'clock in the morning the team left -- shining stars after an eighteen- hour day, a successful event due directly to putting into action the event's theme, "Service before Self."
A core value demonstrated consistently throughout the 349th by award winners and those waiting for awards, noted Chief Master Sgt. Mitchell as he appeared in the darkness of the parking lot. The Chief remarked, "An outstanding evening hosted by an outstanding wing, thank you for your service and everything you do."
Indeed, thank you 349th members, for all you do, both in and out of uniform. Your service before self, excellence in all you do, and integrity are worthy of celebration this year, next year, and every moment of everyday. Cheers!