Two 17 LRS members win at AETC level

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Luis Loza Gutierrez
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Air Education and Training Command recently announced the results of the 2007 AETC Logistics Readiness Awards, and two members of Goodfellow Air Force Base's 17th Logistics Readiness Squadron were named the best in two separate categories.

The AETC Logistics Readiness Awards is part of an Air Force program designed to recognize the outstanding achievements and accomplishments of both civilian and military personnel in the logistics readiness career fields at an Air Force major-command level.

Vincent Said (pronounced Sa-ee-d), a travel assistant with 17 LRS transportation flight was named the AETC Logistics Readiness Transportation Civilian Technician of the Year.

"Vince is one of the hardest working people I've every known," said Faye Braswell, Mr. Said's supervisor.

Ms. Braswell's comment is further validated by the approximately 35 years of experience Mr. Said has in the transportation career field. A big chunk of that experience is due to the more than 24 years of work the retired master sergeant served in the AirForce. His last 10 and a half years of experience have been at his current position.

Mr. Said recommendation form was noted with numerous impressive accomplishments, which further attest to his hard work.

According to the form, Mr. Said helped save the Air Force $3.9 million by completed 100 percent airline fare surveillance, well above the service's 10 percent standard.

This is not the first time Mr. Said's hard work has rendered him an award. He was named the civilian of the quarter for the 17th Mission Support Group a few years ago and was named the civilian of the quarter for the 17 LRS in December 2007.

However, the essence of Mr. Said's hard work is not about winning awards. It is simply a testament to one man's dedication and his the job is but another tool to show how much he cares about making sure people are well taken care of.

To further prove this point, Mr. Said's superiors also noted that the four occasions Mr. Said asked permission from his part time job at the base's dining facilities to assist stranded travelers after duty hours.

The 17 LRS's commander, Lt. Col. William Roberts, was the other AETC-level winner.

The 17-year veteran won the Col. Cynthia L. Benulis Logistics Readiness Award, which is arguably the most prestigious AETC-level award for a field grade officer in the logistics and readiness career field. The recent AETC honor is by no mean's this Air Force officer's first notable award.

In 2004 he received the Jerome Peppers Award from the Air Force Institute of Technology. In 2002 he was named the Air Force Logistic Center's Logistics Planner Field Grade Officer of the Year and during his time with the 552nd Logistics Group at Tinker AFB, Okla., he became a recipient of the Lance P. Sijan Award (1999), which was created by the Air Force to recognizes individuals who have demonstrated the highest qualities of leadership in their jobs and in their lives.

Lieutenant Colonel Robert's leadership qualities were definitely put to use not too long ago having been deployed to Southwest Asia for 6 and half months commanding an Air Force unit performing convoy operations into and out of Iraq.

In addition to his recent deployment and position as a squadron commander, Lt. Col. Roberts is continuing to demonstrate his qualities as a leader by taking on the monumental task of being director for Goodfellow's upcoming Air Show, Air Fiesta '08, which is scheduled to take place March 15 at San Angelo Regional Airport Mathis Field.

The two AETC-level winners will move on to compete in their respective categories at the Air Force level against winners from other major commands.