Energy & Persistence: AMC names Grand Forks AFB sergeant Outstanding Medical Materiel NCO for 2013

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez
  • 319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D --  A Warrior of the North was recently selected for a 2013 Air Mobility Command Air Force Medical Service Award.

Tech. Sgt. Brandie M. Scott, medical logistics flight chief for the 319th Medical Support Squadron, was named the Outstanding Medical Materiel NCO of the Year.

The primary objective of the AFMS awards program is to recognize those that have made exceptional contributions to health care, education, training, research, leadership, information technology and communications. The 2013 AMC Outstanding Medical Materiel NCO Award recognizes the exceptional work and contributions to the medical logistics field of an enlisted service member in the ranks of staff sergeant or technical sergeant during the 12-month period from Oct. 1, 2012 through Sept. 30, 2013.

"My group commander, Colonel Terri Bailey, our group chief, Chief Master Sergeant Marc Schoellkopf, and my acting squadron commander, Captain Christopher Ordonez notified [me]," said Scott when asked how she found out about her recent award. "It was so nice having my senior leadership come to the logistics warehouse to deliver the news in person. I actually teared up."

Scott extended her appreciation for another member of her leadership.

"I was so thankful to my flight commander, Second Lieutenant Joseline Phillip, for believing in me and my ability to do my job to have submitted me for this award," said the NCO who holds degrees from the University of Maryland and American Military University. "There is nothing better than support from those you love and respect. Don't get me wrong the award is fantastic, but to know your hard work, energy and persistence are not exerted in vain is a great feeling."

Persistence and energy appear to be two of Scotts' best traits considering she is the only medical logistics member for Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., and she responsible for more than $4 million of medical materiel. These two facts that did not elude the commander of the U. S. Air Force Expeditionary Center, Maj. Gen. Frederick H. Martin.

The general identified Scott as a "star performer" in recognition for exceptionally maintaining the medical materiel for the base medical treatment facility, base agencies and four geographically separated units, which include the 934th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron at Minneapolis-St. Paul Air Reserve Station, the 148th Fighter Wing at Duluth Air National Guard Base, Minn., and the Fargo Clinic run by the 119th Wing, a North Dakota Air National Guard unit.

This is not the first time the 16-year Air Force veteran from Aiea, Hawaii, has won this type of award for a major command.

In 2010 she won Outstanding Medical Logistics NCO of the Year Award for the U.S. Air Forces Europe command while stationed at Royal Air Force Lakenheath in the United Kingdom.
Scott will now compete in the same medical service category at the Air Force level; however, her mindset will remain the same about her job despite the result or numerous accolades.

"I believe that we all have choices to seek out opportunities to better ourselves, in which ever way we see best for the path we wish to continue on," said Scott. "In my job, communication is the grain of rice that can tip the scale on either way. I have learned a very true quote from someone I truly admire: 'anything is possible with energy and persistence.'"