Air Force JTAC Selected as Sijan Award Winner

[SOWT]

The Sijan Award is similar in nature to the MacArthur Award:

Here is the link for the full story: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/20..._award_070109/

I am only posting two of the four here:

Four airmen, three in ground combat roles, are the recipients of the 2008 Lance P. Sijan Award for leadership.

First given in 1981, the award is named for the first Air Force Academy graduate to receive the Medal of Honor.

Sijan was shot down over Vietnam in 1967, evading capture for 45 days despite severe injuries. He later died in a prisoner-of-war camp and was presented the Medal of Honor posthumously for his heroism.

The Air Force announced this year’s honorees June 29. They are:

Junior enlisted: Tech. Sgt. Scott Woodring, joint terminal attack controller, 17th Air Support Operations Squadron, Hunter Army Airfield, Ga.

Woodring spent 150 days deployed as a member of a special operations task force and volunteered to stay another 90 days because of personnel shortages. One month into the extended stay, Woodring was critically wounded but still called in close-air support strikes.

“Whether deployed or at home, Woodring endeavored to mentor and challenge over 60 Army, Navy and Air Force personnel ...” his citation said.

Today, Woodring works out of Robins Air Force Base, Ga.

* Senior officer: Maj. James Hughes Jr., director of operations, 24th Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Air Force Base, N.C.

Hunter was recognized for his five months as the squadron’s acting commander, supporting his airmen who served 16,060 combat days and developing the unit’s budget as it prepared to add 30 positions.

Hughes is assigned to Bolling Air Force Base, Washington. D.C.

[Ops NCO]

Good on them.

I do have to make one observation.

It's hard for me to compare this:

Woodring spent 150 days deployed as a member of a special operations task force and volunteered to stay another 90 days because of personnel shortages. One month into the extended stay, Woodring was critically wounded but still called in close-air support strikes.

To this:

Hunter was recognized for his five months as the squadron’s acting commander, supporting his airmen who served 16,060 combat days and developing the unit’s budget as it prepared to add 30 positions.

In my book, the Tech Sgt has the Major beat out every day of the week...and twice on Sunday.

[SOWT]

Good on them.

I do have to make one observation.

It's hard for me to compare this:



To this:



In my book, the Tech Sgt has the Major beat out every day of the week...and twice on Sunday.

You'd have to understand the unit the Major is assigned to, and the fact he filled the CO and Ops Position, I am willing to bet the Major deployed during that timeframe also. Plus they are not competing against each other, but are seperate categories.

[Ops NCO]

You'd have to understand the unit the Major is assigned to, and the fact he filled the CO and Ops Position, I am willing to bet the Major deployed during that timeframe also. Plus they are not competing against each other, but are seperate categories.

You're right, of course. Didn't intend to minimize the Major's accomplishment.