"Of the Year" luncheon honors AFRC top winner Published March 6, 2006 By Airman 1st Class Ann Wilkins Jefferson 910th Airlift Wing Public Affairs YOUNGSTOWN AIR RESERVE STATION -- The same weekend Hollywood rolled out the red carpet for the Academy Awards, the 910th Airlift Wing honored its own stars at the annual awards recognition luncheon at the Eagle’s Nest Club March 4. All “Of the Year” nominees and selectees from 2005 were invited to attend the event, as were other recognition winners from various AFRC, Air Force and USO 2005 competitions. Chief Master Sgt. Robert V. Glus Sr., command chief master sergeant of the 910th Airlift Wing and master of ceremonies, explained how the “of the quarter/of the year” nomination process works, that enlisted awards are given per each calendar quarter while officer awards begin the third quarter of the year prior (third quarter 2004, for this year). One from each quarterly award category is then chosen as the annual winner. Chief Glus recognized all nominees, saying, “It’s an honor just to be nominated by your squadron – you ought to be awfully proud of that.” The chief then called the “Of the Year” selectees forward to receive their awards from Col. Timothy J. Thomson, 910th Airlift Wing commander. Each honoree received an engraved model of a C-130; an impressive medallion from USAA; gift certificates from the base credit union, the Army Air Force Exchange Service and Ohio State Sen. Mark Dann’s office; a $100 savings bond from the 910th Airlift Wing Services Division; and a Wing coin. The ceremony spotlighted an extra special award recipient. Capt. Raymond W. Gale, 910th Performance Planning Officer, was not only the Third Quarter 2004 Company Grade Officer selectee and 2005 Company Grade (formerly called Junior) Officer of the Year winner from the 910th Airlift Wing. Ultimately AFRC then chose Capt. Gale as its top “Of the Year” selectee, for which Lt. General John A. Bradley, AFRC commander, presented him with an impressive plaque at the Reserve Officers Association convention in February. Colonel Thomson re-presented the plaque at the awards lunch. The 22nd Air Force also named the captain as its Performance Planner of the Year and has nominated him for the AFRC competition. An impressive group of 22AF and AFRC recognition award recipients also stepped front and center for a Wing coin and photo with the colonel. Colonel Thomson remarked, “It’s a commander’s dream to have wing personnel like yourselves. This is both an individual and team effort; folks wouldn’t be successful without a good team behind them – consider that.” Captain Gale echoed the colonel’s sentiment when receiving his AFRC award: “I don’t know where I’d be without my family and Colonel Thomson. You don’t do this alone. Thanks to all of my peers.” The fine meal was courtesy of the Air Force Association, Base Community Council, the Chiefs Group, the First Sergeants Council, and the local Reserve Officers Association #41. Of the Quarter selectees, Of the Year, and other recognition: ENLISTED First Qtr. Airman: SrA Lisa Stein, 910 MOF NCO: TSgt. Donald Weilacher, 773 AS Sr. NCO: SMSgt. Duane Sackett, 910 MSF Second Qtr: Airman: SrA Abby Charboneau, 76 APS NCO: TSgt. William McAdoo, 910 SFS Sr. NCO: SMSgt. John McKibben, 773 AS Third Qtr: Airman: Amn Jennifer King, 910 MXS NCO: TSgt. Mary Ann Mracek Sr. NCO: SMSgt. Bruce Hague, 76 APS Fourth Qtr: Airman: SrA Kathy Winner, 910 MSF NCO: TSgt. Shawn Jackson, 910 MXS Sr. NCO: MSgt. Renee Noel, 910 SFS COMPANY GRADE OFFICERS Third Qtr 2004: Capt. Raymond Gale, 910 AW Fourth Qtr. 2004: 1Lt. Wendy Prokop, 910 OSS First Qtr. 2005: 1Lt. Youssef Mhemedi, 910 OSS Second Qtr. 2005: Capt. Philip Shirah, 773 AS Of the Year Selectees Airman: SrA Kathy Winner, 910 MSF NCO: TSgt. William McAdoo, 910 SFS SNCO: MSgt. Renee Noel, 910 SFS First Sgt.: MSgt. Jeffrey Burke, 910 SFS Company Grade Officer: Capt. Raymond Gale, 910 AW AFRC “Of the Year” Selectee Capt. Raymond Gale, AFRC Outstanding Jr. Officer of the Year 910th Security Forces SrA Jessica Herold, AFRC Outstanding Security Forces Full-Time Airman of the Year TSgt. William McAdoo, AFRC Outstanding Security Forces Full-Time NCO of the Year 1Lt. Nathan List, AFRC Outstanding Company Grade Officer of the Year 910th Security Squadron, on to AFRC 910th Operations Group 910th Operations Group, recipient of the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for 2005 MSgt. James Haupt, AFRC Outstanding Aircrew Life Support SNCO of the Year 910th Mission Support Flight SrA Kathy Winner, USO of Northern Ohio “Service Member of the Year” 910th Airlift Wing Command Post, 22AF Small Unit Command Post of the Year – on to AFRC competition SMSgt. Joe Plesniak, 22AF SNCO Controller of the Year – on to AFRC competition SSgt. Phil Marzano, 22AF NCO Controller of the Year – on to AFRC competition Capt. Raymond Gale, 22AF Performance Planner of the Year