Command Post earns large unit award

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Nestor Cruz
  • 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK AFB, Ark. --  One of Team Little Rock's units was recently recognized as the Air Force's best.

The 19th Airlift Wing's Command Post cinched the service's Best Large Unit award. The command post award recognizes its place as the hub of activity for the Air Force's C-130 center of excellence. 

"A significant portion of the award package is drawn from the sheer volume of work put out by our controllers," said Master Sgt. James Ward, 19th AW Command Post superintendent. "We track more aircraft than any other Air Mobility Command base and submit more operational reports than other Air Education and Training Command base."
Sergeant Ward said the large volume of taskings is due to the fact the command post supports three different wings, a unique Little Rock Air Force Base trait. 

"We coordinate through the commanders for the 19th AW, 314th Airlift Wing and 189th Airlift Wing when submitting operational reports," he said. 

Little Rock's recent switch from an AETC base to an AMC base late last year was a determining factor when the unit submitted their award package. 

"Since we were an AETC base for most of the year, we had to submit our award package as an AETC base," said Sergeant Ward. "Next year we will submit our package as an AMC base and I'm confident we'll be just as competitive." 

Senior Airman Jimmie Johnson, 19th AW Command Post emergency action controller, said the unit's success is a combination of teamwork and communication.

"Teamwork and communication helped us get our job done in spite of our low manning and long work days," he said. "Earning this award recognizes our ability to do more with less." 

Airman Johnson said earning the award gave him a sense of confidence. 

"Earning the best large unit award gave me the confidence to continue doing my best at my job," he said.

The command post superintendent said the award is a true team award in which everyone can take credit.

"The award speaks huge volumes about the quality of our people," said Sergeant Ward. "Our controllers and training managers constantly step up to pump out work in spite of the long hours. They all worked together and earned an 'excellent' rating during the last operational readiness exercise and made it happen."

For Maj. Wesley Sweitzer, 19th AW Command Post chief, earning the best large unit award was made possible by his team of professional Airmen.

"Earning this Air Force level award really speaks of the quality Airmen here and the tireless work they do every day," said Major Sweitzer. "We have a distinct culture in which everyone here is like family and have a true interest in helping each other out to get the job done."

Sergeant Ward said every member of his team recognizes the award's significance and will continue to live up to the Air Force core values.

"We'll continue to do our job to the best of our ability," said Sergeant Ward. "Command Post is more than just the giant voice. We have many responsibilities to support our warfighters and get the mission done."