LRS Airmen claim two AF annual awards

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Spencer Gallien
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Two 23rd Logistics Readiness Squadron non-commissioned officers recently laid claim to Air Force annual awards for their accomplishments in 2007. They will be formally recognized during a Washington D.C. ceremony May 6-8.

Tech. Sgt. Reagan Ross, 23rd LRS vehicle operations supervisor, won the Air Force Vehicle Operations Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year Award and Senior Master Sgt. Mark Nelson, 23rd LRS fuels manager, won as the Fuels Senior NCO of the Year.

"The LRS is extremely proud of these two NCO's and the contributions they made to the Air Force last year," said Maj. Robert Henderson, 23rd LRS operations officer. "It's extremely rare for a base to have two people in the same unit recognized for annual Air Force awards, and it just re-enforces what we all know...that we're a first class outfit here."

Among many of the accomplishments Sergeant Ross had during last year, the one that stuck out in his mind was a medical evacuation he coordinated while deployed to Iraq.

"During a convoy I established a landing zone and secured the perimeter for helicopter aircraft to come in and evacuate three improvised explosive device casualties," said Sergeant Ross. "The results of me and my squad's efforts ended up saving 200 lives throughout the trip.

"During my crew's time in Iraq we logged 500,000 miles on the world's most dangerous roads," added the sergeant. "These accomplishments would not have been possible without a great team behind me. All the gears, so to speak, came together and worked very smoothly."

Earlier this year, Sergeant Ross was also awarded a Bronze Star for his actions in Iraq.

Sergeant Nelson's deployed accomplishments were also recognized in his annual award.

Although Sergeant Nelson and Ross won two different awards, both were recognized for accomplishments made in Iraq.

"I really stepped outside my comfort zone while deployed to Logistics Support Area in Iraq," said Sergeant Nelson, who filled the roll of a chief master sergeant while deployed. "I was responsible for overseeing contractors who worked in the dining facilities, billeting, vehicle motor pool and supply areas."

Even though it was Sergeant Nelson who was recognized by the Air Force for his accomplishments, he quickly pointed out that it wouldn't have been possible without the Airmen he worked with.

"State-side and deployed, all the Airmen I have served with were phenomenal representations of the caliber of servicemembers that are enlisted today," he added. "The award really should be broken up and handed out to all the Airmen I've had the pleasure of working with this past year."

The two NCOs will travel to Washington D.C. and receive tours of various sites including the Pentagon and the Air Force Memorial.

"This is my first trip to the Pentagon," said Sergeant Ross. "I'm really looking forward to the experience--I'm still blown away that I won and am being given this awesome opportunity to visit our nation's capital."

While both sergeants where recognized for their successes in 2007, they both echoed each other when saying that their Airmen will accomplish much more in the years to follow.