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Grand Forks AFB 2013 Annual Awards: Recognition with a sports twist

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez
  • 319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  The ballroom at the Northern Lights Club on Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., appeared more like a scene from an NFL Draft than your typical military awards ceremony the evening of Feb. 7, 2014.

Team Grand Forks Air Force Base celebrated the great accomplishments and work done by its very best Warriors of the North by hosting the 2013 Grand Forks AFB Annual Awards ceremony in sports theme fashion.

"The wing commander and the command chief challenged this year's 2013 Annual Awards Committee to think outside the box and make the 2013 Annual Awards an event everyone could get excited about and would not soon forget," said Senior Master Sgt. Troy Blanchard, 2013 Annual Awards Committee chairman. "This was unlike anything we have done in the past. The Airmen, NCOs and senior NCOs on the planning committee are the ones who made this event the success it was. I am extremely fortunate to have been along for the ride. The creativity of those folks was obvious with the way the event turned out. I am very honored to have been involved."

It appears the hard work and collaboration worked as skeptical guests were swayed.

"I have to be honest; when I first thought about attending the annual awards ceremony, I thought it was going to be another dry and boring ceremony in my dress blues, but I could not have been more wrong," said Airman 1st Class Robert M.P. Wesley III, who attended the event to root for nominees from the 319th Force Support Squadron. "I think most people at other bases would be surprised if I told them my attire for my base's annual awards was a jersey and ball cap, but I'm glad the event was so casual and nontraditional because I had so much fun that I momentarily thought I was a sports bar instead of a ballroom on a military base. It was awesome."

The event even impressed guests familiar with the annual awards experience.

"I've been to several official awards ceremonies in my fourteen-plus years in the service, but this one by far the most enjoyable I've ever attended," said Master Sgt. Daniel Shannon, who was the 319th Wing Staff Agencies nominee for Senior NCO of the Year. "From the cool NFL-like logo to the hilarious commentary by the three sportscasters who kept everyone laughing and engaged throughout the night, the entire event was a blast. That's why I wasn't surprise to hear the entire crowd emphatically yell, 'Yes,' when wing commander asked if we liked the new format."

Although the night was full of several funny and memorable moments that drew plenty of cheers and applause the loudest part of the evening came near the end of the night when the names of the 2013 winners were finally announced.

The 2013 winners in their respective categories are as follows:
  • 319th ABW & Team Grand Forks Airman of the Year: Airman 1st Class Vanessa D. Oros, 319th Mission Support Group

  • 319th ABW & Team Grand Forks NCO of the Year: Tech. Sgt. Jennifer C. Ellison, 319th Medical Group

  • 319th ABW & Team Grand Forks Senior NCO of the Year: Senior Master Sgt. Marlon J. Taylor, 319th MSG

  • Grand Forks AFB Honor Guard Member of the Year: Senior Airman Jeffrey M. Lowder, 319th Wing Staff Agencies

  • Team Grand Forks Company Grade Officer of the Year: Capt. Chad Reger, 69th Reconnaissance Group

  • 319th Air Base Wing Company Grade Officer of the Year: Chaplain (Capt). Christopher Watson, 319th WSA

  • 319 ABW & Team Grand Forks Category I Civilian of the Year: James L. Mozey, 319th MSG

  • 319 ABW & Team Grand Forks Category II Civilian of the Year: Timothy D. Flack, 319th WSA

  • 319 ABW & Team Grand Forks Category III Civilian of the Year: Graham Pritchett, 319th MSG

  • 319 ABW NAF Employee of the Year (Non-Supervisory Category): David Winters, 319th MSG

  • 319 ABW NAF Employee of the Year (Supervisory Category): John L. Gorman, 319th MSG

  • Team Grand Forks First Sergeant of the Year: Master Sgt. Richard McCorkle, 319th MSG

  • Team Grand Forks ABW Spouse of the Year: Mrs. Laura R. Lininger, 69th RG

  • 319th ABW Spouse of the Year: Mrs. Heather A. Holmes, 319th MSG

Col. Paul Bauman, 319th Air Base Wing commander, thanked all those who participated in making the celebration a reality, including a few groups such as the staff at the Northern Lights Club who catered the meal and the ladies from the University of North Dakota dance team that cheered and performed to a packed club. However, the commander could not conclude the night without thanking all the supervisors, coworkers and families of all the nominees and winners whose support greatly contributed to the outstanding work and accomplishments attained by Team Grand Forks' Most Valuable Warriors in 2013.

Editor's note: To view more photos of the 2013 Grand Forks Air Force Base Annual Awards click on the following link; PA Photo Stash . Only individuals with government computer access and a common access card will be able to view the photos on Share Point. Scroll all the way down at the Share Point site and look for the file entitled, "140207-2013 Annual Awards" located near the bottom left corner.