Master Sgt. Eric Lent, an Oneonta resident, recognized by New York Air National Guard

Courtesy Photo | Air National Guard Master Sgt. Eric Lent, a member of the 174th Attack Wing, and an Oneonta resident, has been named one of the New York Air National Guard's Airmen of the Year for 2015.  

SYRACUSE, NY, UNITED STATES

01.15.2015

Courtesy Story

New York National Guard

HANCOCK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Air National Guard Master Sgt. Eric Lent, a member of the 174th Attack Wing, and an Oneonta resident, has been named one of the New York Air National Guard's Airmen of the Year for 2015.

Lent was named "Honor Guard Manager of the Year" for the New York Air National Guard.

Each of the New York Air National Guard's six major commands maintains an honor guard which provides military honors at the funerals of Air Force veterans. In 2014 the 174th Attack Wing Honor Guard, which Lent supervises, conducted 239 such funerals.

Lent has served on the base Honor Guard since 2011.

Lent, who is a graduate of Cicero-North Syracuse High School, and holds a bachelor's degree in general studies from Columbia College, joined the New York Air National Guard in 1998.

Lent also holds an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Aerospace Ground Equipment Technology.

He has served in a variety of maintenance and operations positions at the wing and is currently a flight chief, responsible for 14 Airmen.

Lent is one of six New York Air National Guard members recently selected to represent New York in nationwide competition for the entire Air National Guard in various Airman of the Year categories.
He was also selected as 174th Attack Wing Honor Guard Member of the Year for 2014 by the wing's leadership.

Other 174th Attack Wing members recognized for outstanding service in 2014 were:

• Airmen 1st Class, Sierra Walker, from Liverpool, who was named Hancock Field Outstanding Airman of the Year ;
• Staff Sgt. Joseph Allnut, from Liverpool, who was named Hancock Field Outstanding Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year;
• Senior Master Sgt. Ginger Gersbacher, from Constantia, who was named Hancock Field Outstanding Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year;
And Master Sgt. Chritopher Vandemortel, from Newark, who was named Hancock Field Outstanding First Sergeant of the Year.

There are just under 6,000 members of the New York Air National Guard who serve in five flying wings -- the 105th Airlift Wing in Newburgh, the 106th Rescue Wing at Westhampton Beach, the 107th Airlift Wing at Niagara Falls, the 109th Airlift Wing, the 174th Attack Wing in Syracuse and the Easter Air Defense Sector in Rome. The New York Air National Guard is the largest Air National Guard in the United States.

• Date Taken: 01.15.2015
• Date Posted: 01.15.2015 15:44
• Story ID: 152082
• Location: SYRACUSE, NY, US
• Hometown: ONEONTA, NY, US