November 2011-January 2012 - Wisconsin National Guard ...

Senior Wisconsin National Guardleaders recognized Airmen fordeployments and meritorious service atVolk Field Combat Readiness TrainingCenter Dec. 3 and the 128th Air RefuelingWing in Milwaukee Dec. 4.“Every Air National Guard familymember has proudly served and supportedthe Air National Guard mission,” masterof ceremonies 1st Lt. Orman House saidat the Volk Field ceremony Dec. 3. “Wehope that every spouse or significantother, child and extended family memberknows the important role they have inwhat we do.”Gov. Scott Walker, commander-in-chiefof the Wisconsin National Guard, thankedthe Airmen at Volk Field for their serviceand sacrifice.“We take it for granted that, comeChristmastime we’ll have our familiestogether, and many of you won’t alwaysbe together with family,” he said. “Weappreciate that sacrifice.“You are the best and brightest we haveto offer in this state,” Walker continued.“Not just when you’re deployed, but forwhat you do every day. Thank you for whatyou’re doing to be willing, prepared andqualified to accept that call when it comes.If we didn’t have the National Guard, wewould not be the country we are today.”Brig. Gen. John McCoy, commanderof the Wisconsin Air National Guard,observed that the term “hometown hero”may call to mind sports legends.“I like to talk about our heroes, andreally America’s true heroes,” McCoysaid. “They don’t have numbers on the frontand back of their uniforms. We truly are theCitizen Soldiers, Citizen Airmen, citizenmilitary that this country depends on.”Maj. Gen. Don Dunbar, adjutantgeneral of Wisconsin, told Airmenat Volk Field that Congress recentlyrecommended that the chief of theNational Guard be given a seat on theJoint Chiefs of Staff, and that it was theperformance of the Soldiers and Airmen@easeExpressStaff Sgt. Jacqueline Griffis andStaff Sgt. Ryan Swieter with theirNoncommissioned Officer of theYear and Airman of the Year awards,respectively, at Volk Field. 112th MobilePublic Affairs Detachment photo by Sgt.Alyson Swankeof the National Guard who prompted thataction.“There was a time when our countrythought it was better to do all this withoutthe National Guard,” Dunbar said.“Not today — we are part of that team.And you, each and every person in thisroom, you bring the Air Force values —integrity, service before self, excellencein all we do — to everything you do.I couldn’t be prouder of the men andwomen in this room.”Volk Field Airmen of the year wererecognized as well. Staff Sgt. RyanSwieter was named Airman of the Year,Staff Sgt. Jacqueline Griffis was namedNoncommissioned Officer of the Year,Chief Master Sgt. Christopher Chatham,128th Air Refueling Wing maintenancesquadron superintendent, shakeshands with Command Chief Master Sgt.Joe Parlato during a Hometown HeroesSalute Campaign award ceremony Dec.4 at the 128th Air Refueling Wing,Milwaukee. Wisconsin Air NationalGuard photo by Tech. Sgt. Tom SobczykMaster Sgt. Michael Mullenberg wasnamed Senior Noncommissioned Officerof the Year, and Capt. Anthony Hart wasnamed Company Grade Officer of theYear. They will advance for considerationat the state level.Master Sgt. Kenneth Williamson wasrecognized as the 2011 Honor GuardMember of the Year, and Master Sgt.Brian Gruber received the 2011 Lt. Col.Thomas A. Reis Citizenship Award.“This ceremony is not about thegeneral officers, command chief or specialguests,” Col. Ted Metzgar, commander ofthe 128th Air Refueling Wing, said. I”t isabout you, who have sacrificed so much.”McCoy agreed.“It’s important that we recognize thefact that you’ve deployed,” he said. “Itruly appreciate what you do every day,either here or abroad.“We do the work America asked of us.”Master Sgt. Jeffrey Venus, a 128th CivilEngineering firefighter, said the HometownHero award he received was more for hisfamily than himself. “It’s for their stayinghome while I was over there,” he said.“That’s why we do what we do,” addedMaster Sgt. Mike Schmaling, the firstsergeant of the 128th Mission Group.Schmaling and Command ChiefMaster Sgt. Joe Parlato were presentedwith detailed European swords in woodendisplay cases for their duty and service toboth the 128th Air Refueling Wing and the313th Air Expeditionary Wing.“These guys, in a figurative way, slewa lot of dragons,” Metzgar said, explainingthe “dragons” as continuous and demandingrigors of working in a deployed locationwhile being available to the deployedAirmen of the 313th Air ExpeditionaryWing at all times and for all causes.The Hometown Heroes Salutecampaign began in 2008 to recognizeAirmen, their families and communities.Senior Airman Ryan Kuntze, 128th AirRefueling Wing, contributed to this report.10 November 2011-January 2012