Annual awards banquet recognizes wing's finest

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Chelsea Smith
  • 514th Air Mobility Wing public affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST --  Despite the rainy weather, 514th Air Mobility Wing members convened in support and recognition of more than 60 noteworthy Airmen for their accomplishments during the 2013 fiscal year at the 14th Annual Awards Banquet held at the community center here Jan. 11.

Award winners included: Senior Airman Sara Kim, 35th Aerial Port Squadron, Airman of the year; Staff Sgt. Francis A. Carcel, 514th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, noncommissioned officer of the year; Senior Master Sgt. Christopher Hofrichter, 514th Maintenance Operations Squadron, senior NCO of the year; Master Sgt. James T. Meehan, 78th Air Refueling Squadron, first sergeant of the year; Captain Erin Fassold, 88th Aerial Port Squadron, company grade officer of the year; Marjorie Green, 76th Aerial Refueling Squadron, category 1 civilian; Carl Schmidt, 514th Force Support Squadron, category 2 civilian.

Three additional awards were presented to distinguished Airmen along with two Freedom Wing awards given at the squadron and group-level.

Winners of the Chief AK and Mitchel Cup awards included Master Sgt. Lorraine Cuff of the 88th Aerial Port Squadron and the 514th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, respectively.

The Maj. Gen. Joseph McNeil award, presented in honor of the former Freedom Wing commander, was awarded posthumously to Master Sgt. James Vigilante and accepted by his daughter, Ashlee. The award is given in commemoration to the general's 39 years of military service, career as a civil service worker with the Federal Aviation Administration and his contributions as a civil rights pioneer.

To conclude the evening's festivities, the group and squadron-level Freedom Wing awards were presented to the 514th Mission Support Group and the 714th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, respectively. These awards are intended to recognize the group and squadron that earned the most points for submitting officer and enlisted performance reports, awards and decorations, quarterly awards and other individual award nominations.

The awards banquet is a formal affair to highlight the outstanding achievements of individuals, squadrons and groups within the 514th AMW. Individuals are nominated from within their ranks for consideration. Winners of these awards are forwarded to the 4th Air Force to compete with other units within the numbered Air Force. Those selected will compete with individuals at the Air Force Reserve Command level, and upon further selection, will compete for the prestigious Air Force 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year and the Air Force First Sergeant of the Year.