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LINCOLN, Neb. – Three members of the Nebraska Air National Guard received the Outstanding Airman of the Year award at the 155th Air Refueling Wing in formal ceremony during December Unit Training Assembly in Lincoln, Neb.
These three guard members demonstrated selfless actions, going above and beyond expectation both on- and off-duty and telling the Air Force story through their heroic actions. Their actions modeled the Air Force core values of integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do.
Chief Master Sgt. Nancy Vondrasek, the 155th ARW command chief said, “The Outstanding Airman of the Year is to recognize our folks for things that they have done: activities and accomplishments, both personal and professional, that is generally above and beyond what your average Joe would accomplish.”
The OAY award is an Air Force program in which all guard, reserve and active duty installations nominate the most worthy members. Once OAY’s are selected at each base, they compete against other OAY’s selected nationally. The program recognizes airmen for leadership and job performance, significant self-improvement and base or community involvement.
Vondrasek said it is a significant honor for a member to be selected as an OAY and to have one’s accomplishments recognized by having a peer submits a package to nominate the member. She said the OAY award is important because hard work should not go unrecognized.
“We have people saving lives in the area of responsibility, we have people saving lives in their neighborhood, we have people averting suicides with their units who were deployed, we have people going out and being involved in community activities,” said Vondrasek. “This is our story. This is the guard’s story that is lived out in these people’s lives and to recognize them sends a great message to our communities.”
“These are people who should be recognized. They are going to school, they are bettering themselves, and they are becoming better leaders. These are the people that are going to become chiefs and senior leaders.”
Senior Airman Bryan Bach, 155th Civil Engineer Squadron, was named Nebraska Air National Guard’s Outstanding Airman of the Year. He was named a truly selfless hero when he risked his life while deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan. He pulled a trapped, wounded soldier from a burning vehicle that had been hit by an improvised explosive device. While deployed, Bach conducted numerous combat missions and maintained costly Explosive Ordinance Disposal equipment.
Bach maintained a 3.59 grade point average while attending the University of Nebraska, Kearney, and ran in several competitive long distance races, placing in the top 10, proving his excellent fitness. He is fully engaged with his church volunteer group, assisting in moving a single mother and family, building shooting stands for the Fort Kearney Shooting Sport Association, and is an active supporter of Boy and Girl Scouts of America.
Tech. Sgt. Brandon Viet, 155th CES, was named Nebraska Air National Guard’s Noncommissioned Officer of the Year. Viet deployed to Rygge Air Station, Norway, managing improvised explosive device site construction projects spanning 54 hours in five days, completing 3 1/2 expedient shelters. He volunteered to deploy overseas when there was an AOR shortage, securing numerous base projects and service contracts, costly infrastructure upgrades and ensured no security breaches. Viet also counseled airmen in the absence of leadership to properly align the airmen with the Air Force core values
Viet is dedicated to continuing his Professional Military Education, completing 45 hours of continued education. He co-taught a hands-on speech language pathology seminar, organized a cancer screening clinic, co-taught an annual head and neck cancer course, and assisted in neonatal, surgical and cardiovascular intensive care unit seminars.
Meanwhile, Viet volunteered 15 hours for holiday events, organized a squadron basketball league, volunteered to be the Civil Engineer drug testing program administrative manager to hold his peers accountable for their actions, and participated in numerous community events.
Master Sgt. Lisa Tupper, 155th CES, was named Nebraska Air National Guard’s First Sergeant of the Year. Tupper also deployed to Rygge Air Station, Norway, as the First Sergeant to support Operation Impeccable Glove 2012. During her stay, she mentored 14 Royal Norwegian Military engineer cadets and maintained accountability of 44 engineers. She is considered a motivator and helped boost the unit’s morale. In addition, Tupper deployed to Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., to support Operation Silver Steed, at Silver Flag, keeping accountability of more than 180 active duty, guard and reserve Air Force engineers from 13 Air Force Specialty Codes. Tupper supported eight airmen and their families during combat deployments, successfully intervened with a troubled Airman who felt they had no way out of a situation, and counseled an Airman in a potentially dangerous situation to prevent a disaster.
Tupper demonstrates excellence by furthering her education. She earned an Electrical and Mechanical Technology Associates degree, a Human Resources Associates degree from the Community College of the Air Force, and is making significant progress toward the senior noncommissioned officer academy PME. She also strives for excellence in her physical fitness by earning a 98.2 percent on her fitness test.
Tupper volunteers countless hours as a fourth grade catechist at Saint Stephen the Martyr, sponsors many youth activity programs, and coaches boy and girl soccer and baseball teams. Tupper is involved in the Western Douglas County Chamber of Commerce and an active member of the Nebraska Hotel and Motel Association board.
These three airmen have demonstrated their dedication to serving their local communities and Air Force family.
“This is why it’s important for airmen to be recognized for hard work. It is important to recognize our airmen because they are doing outstanding work,” said Vondrasek. “These are selfless acts. They aren’t doing it because they want to get an award, they are doing it because it’s the right thing and they are helping their community. They are helping other members that they work with and that’s what the military’s about. It’s the right thing to do to recognize your people.”
| Date Taken: | 12.12.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 06.04.2013 17:28 |
| Story ID: | 108058 |
| Location: | LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, US |
| Web Views: | 134 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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