Reserve wing honors annual award winners

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Donna T. Jeffries
  • 514th Air Mobility Wing
MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. --  More than 60 wing members were singled out for their outstanding performance during 2008 at the 514th Air Mobility Wing Annual Awards Banquet held Jan. 24 at The Club on McGuire Air Force Base, N.J. 

Winners of this event sponsored by the 514th First Sergeant Council were: Joyce Reed, 514th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, civilian category 1; Jude Porter, 514th Communication Squadron, civilian category 2; Capt. Kristy L. Thompson, 78th Air Refueling Squadron, company grade officer of the year; Senior Airman William H. Walker, 732nd Airlift Squadron, airman of the year; Tech. Sgt. Brieanne Moody, 514th Maintenance Squadron, noncommissioned officer of the year; Senior Master Sgt. Cory S. Shagg, 514th AMXS, senior NCO of the year and Master Sgt. Jeremy Shewmake, 732nd AS, first sergeant of the year. 

In addition to honoring the candidates for the annual awards, four wing members were nominated for the Joseph A. McNeil Award. Chief Master Sgt. Antoinette Kolesnikov, assigned to the 514th CS as chief of Information Systems, was named the winner. As the ninth recipient of this wing award the chief was presented with an engraved solid crystal in the shape of a flame symbolizing this honor. 

The award is named after Maj. Gen. (retired) Joseph A. McNeil. In addition to his 39 years of military service, plus civil service with the Federal Aviation Administration, the general is also known for protecting the rights of American citizens long before he joined the military swearing to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. In 1960 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. General McNeil's life example of citizenship and service to others is part of the criteria selection the award is based on. 

Another evening highlight was the presentation of the two Freedom Wing Award trophies. The 2008 squadron level winner was the 514th AMXS while the 514th Mission Support Group won the award for the second year in a row.

The Freedom Wing Award recognition program is sponsored by the 514th AMW Human Resource Development Council Recognition Committee. It's designed to recognize the wing squadron and group that earned the most points for submitting officer and enlisted performance reports, awards and decorations, Airman of the Quarter and individual award nominations, and letters of appreciation.

The Freedom Wing winners were the most effective squadron and group in taking care of its members during the year, said Lt. Col. Raymond Douglas, recognition committee representative.

Award presentations are just one aspect of the evening attendees get the opportunity to enjoy. The banquet also allows the wing to showcase some time honored military traditions such as the wear of the formal mess dress uniform, setting of the Table of Honor and showcasing the honor guards. 

The 514th First Sergeants Council will host the next awards banquet in January 2010.