Tech. Sgt. receives Fire Service Instructor of the Year award

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jessica Keith
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas-- --  A Fire Academy instructor here proved himself the best the Fire Academy has to offer when he won, this year's Fire Service Instructor of the Year Award.

Tech. Sgt. Kevin P. Wasiewski, a 312th Training Squadron Advanced Hazardous Material Course instructor, has been with the Fire Academy for four years and said he's thrilled to receive the award.

"I've been extremely fortunate to work with some great people at the Fire Academy," said Sergeant Wasiewski. "My fellow instructors and leadership at the academy are an amazing group of professionals and this award represents all the hard work that we do here do every day."

His supervisor, Randy Moore, the Chief of Advanced Fire Courses, said Sergeant Wasiewski has proven himself an asset to the Fire Academy over the past four years.

"During his time here, Sergeant Wasiewski has maintained an outstanding work ethic and a great attitude toward technical training," Mr. Moore said. "It is safe to say that he has been one of the very best advanced course instructors I've had in the last 16 years."

His achievements have run the gamut of improving the Academy's course curriculums to better educate and prepare new Airmen for their careers, to simply setting himself up as a good role model for his students.

Among his many contributions during the past year, Sergeant Wasiewski led a team of six advanced hazardous materials instructors during the 2010 Second Air Force Technical Training Inspection. The team rated error-free during the detailed inspection. He was recognized as the Training Group NCO Instructor of the Quarter from January to March, and received excellent ratings on student graduation critiques and teaching evaluations.

He also led the squadron's Voting Assistance Program, ensuring more than 100 instructors and their families had access to absentee ballots during the 2010 elections.

Sergeant Wasiewski said he feels that because instructors have such an impact on Airmen's careers he needs to hold himself to a high standard.

"Students learn from their instructors in more ways than one," he said. "I want them to feel excited about the Air Force and their careers, so I try to set an example and be the best Airman I can be."