HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. --
The 482nd Force Support Squadron was recently recognized with four Air Force Reserve Command-level awards including the best FSS in AFRC. The annual A1 Awards are intended to recognize the best manpower, personnel, and services programs in Air Force Reserve Command.
During a recent visit to the 482nd FSS, Brig. Gen. Anne Gunter, the Director of Manpower, Personnel and Services (A1) at Headquarters AFRC, surprised the squadron early this month by announcing the winners during her “A1 Call”.
The general briefed FSS personnel on A1 issues but paused her briefing when Col. David Garfield, the 482nd Fighter Wing commander walked through the door.
“I’ve asked Colonel Garfield to join us today,” said Gunter, “so he can help me announce that Homestead’s Force Support Squadron has won four AFRC A1 Awards!”
She then announced the winners including: Best Civilian Personnel Office in AFRC, Best Airman & Family Readiness Office in AFRC; Field Grade Officer of the Year for Lt. Col. Michelle Watson, and the Maj. Gen. Eugene L. Eubank Award for Best FSS in AFRC.
“You’ve hit it out of the park!” said Garfield to the cheers and applause of the squadron Airmen. “Your hard work and dedication shows and I’m glad to see this team recognized at the AFRC level.”
The Eubank Award for best FSS for a base of 5,000 or less Airmen is the one Watson is most proud of. Watson, the FSS commander, said “I walked into this squadron a year ago with 1/3 of the squadron deployed to the Middle East. Because of the civilian hiring freeze we were not able to hire the Air Reserve Technicians we were hoping to hire. The fact we ran this squadron on a skeleton crew, and even had deployed Airmen helping us meet our metrics, speaks volumes to the quality of the FSS team.”
“I am most proud of the Eubanks Award,” said Watson, “because it was a hard-won team effort. I’m pleased that the FSS Airmen can see the fruit of all the work they did in 2017 and were duly recognized for their outstanding work.”
Achievements for the Eubanks Award include work performed by the Military Personnel Section, Sustainment, Education and Training, Airmen & Family Readiness, the Base Honor Guard, and the Civilian Personnel Office. Of particular note were the achievements of FSS Airmen deployed to Kuwait in 2017 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, support during Hurricane Irma and to the wing’s “Own It Initiative.”
The FSS also won for best Civilian Personnel Office for the team’s tireless work during the civilian hiring freeze, their leadership with commanders on civilian personnel issues, and their work during Hurricane Irma in establishing leave and travel guidelines for all civilians.
The Airman & Family Readiness Office was poised for success having been named a Capstone “Superior Team” earlier in the year. The A&FR office worked hard to support 200 deployers and their families, providing services and benefits to families of assigned and tenant military, and to bring community opportunities to the base.
“The Eubanks Award is a feather in the wing’s hat,” said Garfield, “and we would not be here without the leadership of Lt. Col. Watson.”
“Watson took over the squadron in early 2017 and turned it around,” said Garfield. “She was innovative in keeping the squadron afloat, relentless in meeting metrics, put customer service first, and kept the Airmen’s needs and input at the forefront.”
“With Lt. Col. Watson at the helm, and the love, care, and respect I see in the FSS officers and Airmen, I’m not surprised that AFRC recognized their outstanding work,” said Garfield.
The 482nd Force Support Squadron was recently recognized with four Air Force Reserve Command-level awards including the best FSS in AFRC. The annual A1 Awards are intended to recognize the best manpower, personnel, and services programs in Air Force Reserve Command.
During a recent visit to the 482nd FSS, Brig. Gen. Anne Gunter, the Director of Manpower, Personnel and Services (A1) at Headquarters AFRC, surprised the squadron early this month by announcing the winners during her “A1 Call”.
The general briefed FSS personnel on A1 issues but paused her briefing when Col. David Garfield, the 482nd Fighter Wing commander walked through the door.
“I’ve asked Colonel Garfield to join us today,” said Gunter, “so he can help me announce that Homestead’s Force Support Squadron has won four AFRC A1 Awards!”
She then announced the winners including: Best Civilian Personnel Office in AFRC, Best Airman & Family Readiness Office in AFRC; Field Grade Officer of the Year for Lt. Col. Michelle Watson, and the Maj. Gen. Eugene L. Eubank Award for Best FSS in AFRC.
“You’ve hit it out of the park!” said Garfield to the cheers and applause of the squadron Airmen. “Your hard work and dedication shows and I’m glad to see this team recognized at the AFRC level.”
The Eubank Award for best FSS for a base of 5,000 or less Airmen is the one Watson is most proud of. Watson, the FSS commander, said “I walked into this squadron a year ago with 1/3 of the squadron deployed to the Middle East. Because of the civilian hiring freeze we were not able to hire the Air Reserve Technicians we were hoping to hire. The fact we ran this squadron on a skeleton crew, and even had deployed Airmen helping us meet our metrics, speaks volumes to the quality of the FSS team.”
“I am most proud of the Eubanks Award,” said Watson, “because it was a hard-won team effort. I’m pleased that the FSS Airmen can see the fruit of all the work they did in 2017 and were duly recognized for their outstanding work.”
Achievements for the Eubanks Award include work performed by the Military Personnel Section, Sustainment, Education and Training, Airmen & Family Readiness, the Base Honor Guard, and the Civilian Personnel Office. Of particular note were the achievements of FSS Airmen deployed to Kuwait in 2017 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, support during Hurricane Irma and to the wing’s “Own It Initiative.”
The FSS also won for best Civilian Personnel Office for the team’s tireless work during the civilian hiring freeze, their leadership with commanders on civilian personnel issues, and their work during Hurricane Irma in establishing leave and travel guidelines for all civilians.
The Airman & Family Readiness Office was poised for success having been named a Capstone “Superior Team” earlier in the year. The A&FR office worked hard to support 200 deployers and their families, providing services and benefits to families of assigned and tenant military, and to bring community opportunities to the base.
“The Eubanks Award is a feather in the wing’s hat,” said Garfield, “and we would not be here without the leadership of Lt. Col. Watson.”
“Watson took over the squadron in early 2017 and turned it around,” said Garfield. “She was innovative in keeping the squadron afloat, relentless in meeting metrics, put customer service first, and kept the Airmen’s needs and input at the forefront.”
“With Lt. Col. Watson at the helm, and the love, care, and respect I see in the FSS officers and Airmen, I’m not surprised that AFRC recognized their outstanding work,” said Garfield.