Reserve wing recognizes annual award winners

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Donna T. Jeffries
  • 514th Air Mobility Wing
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX- LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Winners of the 514th Air Mobility Wing Annual Awards were announced at Saturday's banquet held here at 6 p.m., at the Community Center.

Sixty-nine Reserve members competed for the yearly title in one of the following categories: Airman, noncommissioned officer, senior noncommissioned officer, company grade officer, first sergeant and Outstanding Civilian of the Year for category I & II. The winners were:

Airman of the Year, Senior Airman Shane R. Clayton, 732nd Airlift Squadron; NCO of the Year, Tech. Sgt. Dustin J. Bordelon, 514th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron; SNCO of the Year, Senior Master Sgt. Wayne D. Hanna, 76th Air Refueling Squadron; First Sergeant. of the Year, Master Sgt. Victor R. Leguillow, 514th Aeromedical Staging Squadron; CGO of the Year, Capt. Joseph P. Trynosky, 514th Maintenance Squadron; Civilian of the Year Cat. I (GS1-GS 8), Lorraine J. Cobb-Moore, 514th AMXS and Civilian of the Year Cat. II (GS-9 through GS 12), Carl J. Schmidt, 514th Force Support Squadron.

Award recipients will now compete with nominees from other 22nd AF bases for the numbered AF yearly title. Upon selection at the 22nd Air Force level, the individuals will compete at the Air Force Reserve Command level. Those enlisted members selected by AFRC are then forwarded for consideration for the Air Force Twelve Outstanding Airman of the Year and the Air Force First Sergeant of the Year.

Since 1993, the 514th AMW has had five members selected at the Air Force level as one of the Twelve Outstanding Airmen of the Year.

The local awards banquet, sponsored by the 514th First Sergeants Council, allows the wing to showcase some time honored military traditions such as wear of the formal mess dress uniform, setting of the Table of Honor and showcasing the talents of our honor guard.

In addition to the aforementioned awards, three additional presentations were made. Winner of the prestigious Joseph A McNeil Award and winners of the Freedom Wing Award at the squadron and group level were announced.

Master Sgt. Sebrena Flagg-Briggs from the 35th Aerial Port Squadron was named recipient of the Joseph A. McNeil Award which is given to a member that exemplifies citizenship and service to others. The award was started in 2001 in honor of Maj. Gen. (retired) Joseph A. McNeil, a former 514th AMW commander and American historical figure.

In addition to his 39 years of military and civil service with the Federal Aviation Administration, the general was a key contributor to the civil rights movement in 1960 when he and three other African-American friends insisted on being served at an F.W. Woolworth whites-only lunch counter in Greensboro, N.C. The protest sparked sit-ins all over the segregated South and is considered a major event in the nation's civil rights movement.

The final highlight of the evening included the announcement of the Freedom Wing Award winners. These awards use a points earned system to separately recognize a squadron and group for their effectiveness in completing requirements for officer and enlisted performance evaluations, Awards & Decorations processes, and nominations associated with Airman of the Quarter, 12 Outstanding Airmen, Company Grade Officer, Civilian of the Year, and Wing Commander's Coin programs.

The 514th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron earned the Freedom Wing Award at the squadron level and the 514th Maintenance Group took home group honors.