ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- With a mission of forging combat mobility forces and deploying Airmen warriors, Altus Air Force Base strives to produce Airmen of the highest quality and in 2015 their efforts were recognized.
Seven squadrons and 11 individuals of Altus AFB were awarded top honors at the Air Education Training Command level among several categories.
For the second year in a row the 97th Logistics Readiness Squadron was recognized at the AETC level. Through superior management, logistical operations and support of mission readiness, the 97th LRS won the General Thomas P. Gerrity Logistics Unit Award and the Daedalian Major General Warren R. Carter Logistics Effectiveness Award. "I am extremely proud of the team here at Altus," said U.S. Air Force Maj. Phillip Wheeler, 97th LRS commander. "LRS Airmen take great pride in their ability to enable the Air Force’s mobility mission and I'm thrilled that their dedication is being recognized in back-to-back years. The contribution of each Airman cannot be overstated as they continue to sustain the wing's mission."
Also earning two consecutive titles, the 97th Civil Engineer, Squadron Emergency Management Flight, earned the Colonel Frederick J. Riemer Award. “This is awarded to the best readiness and emergency management flight in AETC,” said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Aaron Morris, 97th CES Emergency Management non-commissioned officer in charge. “Every Airman in our flight had a direct contribution to winning the award in 2015. Without our outstanding Airmen taking charge and leading from the front, we would not have been able to capture the award two years in a row.” The emergency managment office is responsible for all emergency management related activities, including mission continuation and recovery from incidents.
The 97th CES, Resources Flight received the Major General Robert C. Thompson Award that recognizing the Air Force civil engineer unit that achieved the highest degree of resource excellence by offering the most outstanding products and services to its customers, said John Calmus, 97th CES Resources Flight chief asset accountability element. “They have long been recognized as the best at what they do. As more demands get put on them, they continually step up and make things happen.”
The 97th Comptroller squadron also earned two awards; the AETC Comptroller of the Year and AETC Financial Services Office of the Year. “These two awards were won through the dedication and proficiency of our Airmen,” said U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Troy Lee, 97th CPTS superintendent. CPTS processed more than $950,000 in payments that lead to boosting the quality of life for Altus AFB dorm residents, identified and resolved 10 military travel errors, executed $44 million for runway repairs and ushered a new accounting system saving 400 man-hours.
The Outstanding Small Medical Logistics Account of the Year was awarded to the 97th Medical Group Logistics flight. “The Logistics team engineered the $61,000 flu vaccine acquisitions which led to a 99 percent immunization rate in less than eight weeks,” said U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Dustin Brown, 97th Medical Group, Medical Logistics Flight commander. “Each individual Medical Logistician is an invaluable asset. All individuals work their part and assist in the completion of the mission.”
On the training mission side of Altus AFB, the 54th Air Refueling Squadron was awarded best Mobility and Special Operations Squadron in AETC, beating out 10 other competitors. "I'm very proud of each and every member of the 54th," said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Tharon Sperry, 54th ARS commander. "This is the second year in a row that the 54th ARS has been recognized with this outstanding award and it acknowledges the sacrifice and continued dedication given by our Airmen every day.”
Directly supporting the training mission as well as deploying Airmen, the 97th Operation Support Squadron’s Aircrew Flight Equipment office earned the Outstanding 2015 USAF AFE Large Program of the Year for AETC by training 2,200 U.S. and international Airmen in survival training events, helped support 1,100 air drops among many other tasks. “The outstanding performance and hard work provided by the Airmen and Civilians working in AFE has been nothing short of amazing. These combat-ready Airmen consistently deliver world-class operational support through innovative thinking,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Adrian Gonzales, 97th AFE flight commander.
In addition to the squadron winners, Altus AFB came through with the following Airmen winning individual awards.
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Capt. Andrea Harrington, Katherine Wright Award
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Capt. Trisha Benish, USAF Biomedical Clinician Category One Officer of the Year
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Senior Master Sgt. Larry Mays, Lance P. Sijan Award
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Senior Master Sgt. Juancarlos Cueto, Aircrew Flight Equipment Senior Non-Commissioned officer of the Year
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Tech. Sgt. David Salser, Ground Unit Safety Rep of the Year
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Tech. Sgt Benjamin Gates, NCOA Vanguard Award
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Airman 1st Class Alexander Harshman, Aircrew Flight Equipment Airman of the Year
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Joy Lowe, Key Spouse of the Year
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Boone Nicolls, Command Civilian Award with Valor
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Richard Desnoyer, Lieutenant General Leo Marquez Award
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Ashley Blevins, Gen John P. Jumper Award
"Our Airmen are doing phenomenal work every day to keep our mission going,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Todd Hohn, 97th Air Mobility Wing commander. "This honor is an acknowledgement of their hard work specifically, but more broadly, it speaks to the effort put forward by the whole Mighty 97th team."