120th Airlift Wing members made some noise for award winners

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Lindsey Soulsby
  • 120th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
GREAT FALLS, Mont. --  Leadership of the Montana Air National Guard gathered in the main hangar with 120th Airlift Wing members for an informal formation awards ceremony  Jan. 10, 2015.  The ceremony was an energetic event as the members cheered for the medal winners, graduates, retirees and Outstanding Airmen of the Year award recipients.

Maj. Cody Smith of the 120th Airlift Wing read through a lengthy list of awardees; requesting at the end of each category the members 'give it up' with applause and cheering.   The members who had retired in 2014, a total of 49, were honored for their service to the Montana Air National Guard.

The medals presented during the ceremony included a safety award, 35 United States Air Force Meritorious Service Medals, 23 United States Air Force Commendation Medals and 23 United States Air Force Achievement Medals.

The wing recognized two United States Air Force Basic Military Training honor graduates, 19 technical training graduates that graduated with academic achievement, 11 technical training distinguished graduates, and three Airmen who had graduated from professional military education courses during 2014.

Eighteen unit members were recognized during the ceremony for having completed the requirements needed to be awarded the Community College of the Air Force associates degree.
120th Airlift Wing Safety Wingman of the Year represented the 120th Operations Group. Airman 1st Class Regina Fragale  used her Self-Aid Buddy Care skills in an  in-flight emergency where she tended to victim's bleeding wounds.   

120th Airlift Wing Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2015 are as follows: Airman of the Year to Senior Airman Eve Dorshorst of the 120th Maintenance Squadron, NCO of the Year to Tech. Sgt. Ryan Caldwell of the 120th Operations Group, and Senior NCO of the Year to Master Sgt. Jeremy Marn of the 120th Maintenance Group.  Master Sgt. Theodore Clark of 120th Mission Support Group won the award for First Sergeant of the Year for 2014.  Capt. Jeffrey Simpson took home the award for Junior Officer of the Year.  Military members were not the only people recognized; the Volunteer Point of Contact for the 120th Maintenance Squadron, Erin Gottlob, was awarded Volunteer of the Year. 

A new category was included this year to highlight an honor guard member of the year; the first member awarded was Airman 1st Class Trevor Livingston of the 120th Force Support Squadron. 

"It's really neat to see as we send our vigilantes off to formal schools how well you do.  Your performance is outstanding and has made a huge difference in where we are at today in this conversion," Hronek said. 

The event concluded with the 120th Airlift Wing members singing of the Air Force song.