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'AFSOC 10' to report for awards

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Stuart Camp
  • 1st SOW Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  Ten individuals from across Air Force Special Operations Command will be honored in a banquet ceremony May 8 in the Emerald Coast Conference Center. 

These Airmen - all of whom have served in uniform - are the command's annual award winners in their separate categories. 

This group of two officers, three civilians and five enlisted Airmen will report to Hurlburt Field for a two-day, distinguished-visitor orientation tour, which culminates with the banquet. 

The winners are Lt. Col. Jeff Hinrichs, 11th Intelligence Squadron; Capt. Michael Jensen, 24th Special Tactics Squadron; Master Sgt. Glenn Douglass, 352nd Maintenance Squadron; Master Sgt. Charles McHarney IV, 24th STS; Tech. Sgt. Nadine Cabano, 27th Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron; Tech. Sgt. Jessica Sparks, 1st Special Operations Security Forces Squadron; Senior Airman Mary Bullock, 11th IS; Anthony Correia, 1st SOSFS; Kathleen Denny, 1st Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron; and Gary Saltzburg, 27th SOCES. 

"Once again we had an outstanding group of Airmen nominated for recognition as the very best of the best, and that was clear in each of the packages," said Chief Master Sgt. Michael Gilbert, AFSOC command chief. "Our board members had a very difficult time selecting individual winners. All the nominees were truly outstanding." 

The official announcement of the winners came April 10. 

"My commander notified me while I was on leave in Germany," said Sergeant Douglass, AFSOC's first sergeant of the year. "I never expected to receive something like this for doing the job I love." 

Each winner will receive a custom-built award, specially designed for AFSOC. It's a three-dimensional trophy made with walnut and acrylic. In addition to the formal hardware, the "AFSOC 10" will receive $200 in gifts and prizes donated by local organizations and businesses. 

During their two-day visit, the award winners will receive briefings on AFSOC operations and tour key facilities. 

"Our intent is that they know we appreciate their tremendous service, that what they are doing is very important and that when they go back to their units they are able to share their experience and the appreciation we have for what all our AFSOC Airmen do," Chief Gilbert said.