ARLINGTON, Va. - The Air National Guard's top six enlisted Airmen of the year were centers of a lot of attention and praise and received many rewards when the Air Guard's command chief master sergeant hosted Airmen of the Year Week Aug. 4-11.
The special group conversed and shook hands with military, civilian and political leaders in and around Washington, D.C. They were lauded at several ceremonies, and they toured the nation's capital in the summer heat. When they left, they carried a suitcase full of memories as well as certificates, coins, plaques, statuettes and other special rewards which recognized their achievements.
The National Guard Bureau's top six Airmen were:
- Airman of the Year - Staff Sgt. Jesse Permenter, 116th Air Support Operations Squadron, Washington;
- Noncommissioned Officer - Tech. Sgt. Michael Keller, 179th Airlift Wing, Ohio;
- Senior NCO - Senior Master Sgt. Lawrence Taylor, 270th Air Traffic Control Squadron, Oregon;
- First Sergeant - Senior Master Sgt. Dorothy Pearson, 116th Air Control Wing, Georgia;
- Honor Guard Program Manager - Tech. Sgt. Wendy Haight, 123rd Airlift Wing, Kentucky;
- Honor Guard Member - Tech. Sgt. Celia Herrera, 107th Air Control Squadron, Arizona.
"I think these Airmen will reflect back on their week here and realize the importance of what this award means and that it's a representation of our entire enlisted force," said Command Chief Master Sgt. Richard Smith, the Air Guard's highest ranking enlisted member and host for the annual event. "We have a great Air Guard enlisted force, all 93,000 plus."
The process began with unit- and wing-level competitions and progressed to state selections. The six national winners were selected by the Air Guard's top leaders from entries submitted by the 54 states and territories. Winners were then invited to bring one guest for an all expenses paid trip to Washington.
"It's been absolutely awesome, and I've enjoyed every minute of it," said Taylor who was also recognized as one of the Air Force's 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year. He said his service as an air traffic controller at home and at Baghdad Airport in Iraq and the team members he worked with there were central to his success.
It's not everyday you get to visit the Guard's senior leaders at their homes, including Army LTG H Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau. The Airmen joined the Army National Guard's Soldiers and NCOs of the Year at Blum's home on Ft. McNair for an evening reception.
"They have a tremendous opportunity and great potential to be anything they want to be," Blum said. "There may be a future command chief or a command sergeant major in this group, or even a future chief of the bureau. I'm immensely proud of them. They are just extraordinary young Americans."
The Airmen went from Washington to Oklahoma City to attend the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States' annual conference.
"This is one of the best groups we've ever had," said Smith. "No matter what your job is, if you do your best, you will be recognized. The most important job you have is the one you have now, so do your best today, and you will progress. I'm living proof of that."