367th FS Airman honored during award ceremony at U. S. Southern Command

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Aja Heiden
  • 482nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. --  Airmen from the 482nd Fighter Wing and U.S. Southern Command in Doral, Florida, gathered together to honor the Air Force Association Miami-Homestead award winners and celebrate the Air Force's 69th birthday, Sept. 16.

Staff Sgt. Grant Gianola, a 367th Fighter Squadron aerospace propulsion jet mechanic, was selected for the Outstanding Airman of the year award by the AFA.

The 367th FS is an active duty tenant unit attached here and belongs to the 495th Fighter Group at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina.

“It was a great surprise,” said Gianola “My leadership didn’t tell me they were putting me in for this award.”

Gianola is a Reno, Nevada, native who joined the Air Force four years ago and has earned several awards during his service. He was a Distinguished Graduate at Airman Leadership School and selected as Airman of the quarter for the 367th FS and the 495th FG.

"His commitment and dedication set him apart from his peers and that is why he is able to win these awards," said Tech. Sgt. Kenneth Kelly, the 367th FS flight chief and Gianola’s supervisor. “He is education-minded and focused.”

Although Gianola was recently promoted to staff sergeant. he has broader aspirations for his AF career and will be going to Officer Training School to become a combat systems officer next year.

“I will be leaving for Total Force Officer Training in early 2017, and then I will go to Pueblo, Colorado to learn flying skills”, said Gianola. “Next, I will go to Naval Air Station in Pensacola for one year of undergraduate Combat Systems Operator training. Upon completion of that school I will receive my aeronautical rating and be assigned to an aircraft.”