139th News

Wing’s ‘Outstanding Airmen of the Year’ like no others

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kelsey Ramirez
  • 139th Airlift Wing
ST. JOSEPH, MO --  139th Airlift Wing officials here recently selected an "outstanding" group and announced them as "Airmen of the year" here after reviewing their accomplishments.

Chief Master Sgt. Gaila Sullivan, command chief for the Wing, announced the 2012 Outstanding Airmen of the Year (OAY) awardees Nov. 3, during the Unit Training Assembly at Rosecrans Air National Guard Base.

"As with every year, this year's awardees are among the Wing's best of the best, and we are very proud of their accomplishments as well the accomplishments of all the candidates," said Sullivan.

Sullivan added that this years' selection was like no others, due in part to the group's high level of experience in overseas deployments and volunteer service through state emergency duty.

The 139th Airlift Wing Airmen of the Year are:

Airman of the Year:
Senior Airman Gregory Haynes
139th Security Forces Squadron

Noncommissioned Officer of the Year:
Staff Sgt. Troy Green
139th Security Forces Squadron

Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year:
Senior Master Sgt. Thomas Triplett
139th Logistics Readiness Squadron

"Winning an Airman of the year is a direct reflection of the leadership I fall under, at our security level, and base wide," said Green. "Hopefully, I can take that experience and bring what I learned back to the junior enlisted guys. It's a learning experience and a chance to grow."

Green is a security forces journeyman. He joined the unit in 2011 from the Army National Guard. In his first year with the Wing he stepped forward for state emergency flood duty to assist in aircraft relocation to Kansas City International Airport when flooding hit Rosecrans. He also volunteered in the fall of that year to a combat deployment in Afghanistan. During that deployment, Green served with the Missouri Army National Guard's Agricultural Development Team.

The other OAYs are just as accomplished, said Sullivan

Triplett is in charge of special purpose and general purpose vehicles here. Officials said he showed "an incredible dedication to duty" when he deployed to Manas Air Base, Kyrgyz Republic. There he served as the Special Purpose Vehicle Supervisor, Customer Service Supervisor and Night Shift Supervisor.

Haynes, another Security Forces Airman, completed the U.S. Air Force's highly demanding "RAVEN" security forces school. As a trained RAVEN, he provided personnel security details for several senators and representatives, in a mission to Bogota, Columbia. Haynes also has a record of combat deployments, including one to Sather Air Base, Iraq, and another to El Salvador just this spring, where he was attached to an Army Special Forces unit.

"We were very impressed with all of the candidates, and they are role models," said Sullivan.

The Airmen are now candidates for Missouri's OAY, and those awardees will compete for the Air National Guard OAY. The Air Force's 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year review and recognition follows.