Team BLAZE's top members announced at banquet

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Chase Hedrick
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  The 2010 Team BLAZE Annual Award winners were announced at a banquet held Feb. 11 at the Columbus Club here.

Air Education and Training Command's Command Chief Master Sgt. James Cody attended as the guest speaker for the event, but not before the 2010 quarterly award winners and runners for the annual awards were ceremonially presented with loud cheers from the audience.

After a few air horns, sirens and squadron cheers, Chief Cody worked to provide recognition, inspiration and insight to the attendees.

Having spent time looking over the awards packages for the winners he lauded the 46 Airmen who were nominated for the awards for volunteering over 1,000 hours of time, raising over $100,000 dollars for important causes and achieving advanced degrees, among other things.

"These folks have risen over this past year becoming the best of the best," said Chief Cody.

Searching for a common tie among the award winners, Chief Cody said he had to look between the lines to discover who is the best of this best, noting attitudes and a constant readiness as key factors.

"These people control their lives through their attitudes. It's never a bad day. It's always a day where they can make an impact," he said. "They don't have to have a bad day, because they choose to have the right attitude, every day."

"They look for opportunity, they don't wait for opportunity," said Chief Cody. "They are the people who are always ready, and always preparing themselves for what's next, so when it happens they're the ones to get it done."

Although the best of the best 2010 had been picked, Chief Cody was quick to not diminish the success of the other members of the 14th Flying Training Wing.

"I leave you with this: You're all winners," said Chief Cody "You hold your head up high and proud because nobody could be more proud than this command of all the great things you've done. As I stand here and represent General Rice, General Owens and the entire command, I say thank you for what you've done."

Congratulations to the 2010 14th Flying Training Wing Annual Award Winners

Airman of the Year- Senior Airman Ruby Barrera, 14th Operations Group

Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year - Staff Sgt. Dustin Weeks, 14th Mission Support Group

Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year - Master Sgt. Brian Bailey, 14th MSG

Company Grade Officer of the Year - 1st Lt. Adam Irvin, 14th Medical Group

Field Grade Officer of the Year - Maj. Aaron Han, 14th Flying Training Wing Staff Agency

Instructor Pilot of the Year - Capt. Jay Doerfler, 50th Flying Training Squadron

Category 1 Civilian of the Year - Tharwin Carr, 14th MDG

Category 2 Civilian of the Year - Rosalind Boaz, 14th MDG

Category 3 Civilian of the Year - Margaret Sherman, 14th MDG

Flight Commander of the Year - Capt. Joshua Kenyon, 14th OG

First Sergeant of the Year - Master Sgt. Ronnie Swanner, 14th OG

Volunteer of the Year - Jill Hubert, Columbus Spouses Club

Flight Chief of the Year - Neil Hogan, 14th 14th MSG

Honor guard member of the Year - Senior Airman Brandon Smith, 14th OG

Honor guard project manager of the Year - Tech Sgt. Jeffrey Randolph, 14th OG