Photo By Master Sgt. Lealan Buehrer | Pictured are the 182nd Airlift Wing’s Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2019: From...... read more read more
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Integrity first, service before self and excellence in all we do: The Air Force core values provide a guide for all Airmen to follow, and these values are represented best by those honored as the annual Outstanding Airmen of the Year for the 182nd Airlift Wing.
The 182nd Airlift Wing’s Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2019 are:
Staff Sgt. Randle Taborn, Outstanding Airman of the Year
Tech. Sgt. Hugh McCorkle, Outstanding NCO of the Year
Senior Master Sgt. Melissa Grice, Outstanding Senior NCO of the Year
Master Sgt. Brad Wheeler, Outstanding First Sergeant of the Year
Senior Master Sgt. Melissa Grice, a base contracting officer with the 182nd Mission Support Group, also won at the state level and said both distinctions were great honors.
“Contracting officers are important because we supply our air fighters with anything they need to support and complete their mission,” she said. “This job is very interesting and exciting, because you don’t always know what somebody is going to request, and [to] figure out how to go and get that item for the person can be a challenge.”
Grice’s role in contracting meant assisting in plans for a new firehouse for the wing, and directly impacted by that was Staff Sgt. Randle Taborn, a fire protection specialist with the 182nd Civil Engineer Squadron, whom also won at both the wing and Illinois Air National Guard levels.
“I originally wanted to be a firefighter because my uncle was and I’ve always looked up to him, and I just think they’re cool,” he said. “I really like helping people, so it fits my personality.”
Having recently joined the NCO ranks, Taborn shared advice for those incoming Guardsmen who want to find the same kind of success.
“For Airmen coming back from tech school, I think they should listen to everything their supervisor says and try to find that person to mimic that you can look up to, who is doing their job the right way,” he said. “Always try to be the best in what you do by setting goals to give yourself something to reach for and aspire to.”
The NCO-tier recipient, a security forces specialist with the 182nd Security Forces Squadron, said he finds his position to be a rewarding challenge.
“In this role as an NCO, it’s very important that you can be a leader and a follower at certain times,” Tech. Sgt. Hugh McCorkle said. “I think you need to lead by example. If I’m going to tell my Airmen to do something, then I need to be able to meet those expectations — not just for my troops, but for myself. As far as being a follower, I try to learn as much as I can from senior NCOs or other NCOs around me through observation.”
The recipient of the first sergeant tier, the 182nd Airlift Wing’s Master Sgt. Bradley Wheeler, said it’s important for Airmen to remember the first sergeant isn’t just there to discipline them when they get in trouble.
“The first sergeant is really there to help you get through your issues so that your house is in order when it’s time to go,” he said. “Don’t hesitate to reach out to your first sergeant if you have a problem, because a lot of times bigger problems can be avoided if you go and talk to your first sergeant first.”
The annual Outstanding Airman of the Year awards program seeks to recognize Airmen based on superior leadership, job performance and personal achievements. Award recipients are selected by a board, awarded at the unit and wing levels before wing-level winners are submitted to compete statewide at the Illinois Air National Guard headquarters.
| Date Taken: | 01.31.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 01.31.2019 09:30 |
| Story ID: | 308934 |
| Location: | PEORIA, IL, US |
| Web Views: | 285 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 182nd Airlift Wing announces 2019 Airmen of the Year, by 2nd Lt. Jason Grabiec, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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