When Lt. Gen. Burt Field (AF Retired) accepted the invitation of ND President of Air and Space Forces Association to speak at the Commander’s Choice Awards banquet, our chapter was overjoyed. The CEO of the Air and Space Forces Association was going to come to Minot, and the Minot Air Force Base, to deliver the keynote address to the Airmen gathered to honor the Airmen who were chosen that night to receive a Commanders Choice award.
As is pretty much accepted protocol, we reached out to the 5th Bomb Wing and 91st Missile Wing to arrange not only a tour of the Minot Air Force Base, but a roundtable discussion with both wing commanders.
Our request was accepted and Mr. and Mrs. Field were treated to a tour that included a window tour of the base, a tour of Uniform 1 and the Missile Procedures Trainer, and a 1-hour roundtable discussion with Col Jimmy Schlabach and Col Thomas Taylor. Col. Jesse Lamarand was not on base, so Col. Taylor graciously stepped in to represent the 5th Bomb Wing.
What Burt Field heard and experienced during his short time at Minot Air Force Base was the message I hear all the time. From Col Schlabach, who is retiring at the end of June; “This truly is a special place. I am so glad I was able to finish my Air Force career at Minot.”
CEO Field was so impressed and perhaps overwhelmed with what he heard and saw at Minot Air Force Base, that he also included in his speech that he “felt how different it is here. Believe me, it isn’t this way everywhere.”
When someone asked me “are there Commander’s Choice Awards Banquets at every base. Is it something that every chapter does?” After a bit of research on my end, the answer is “no, not every AFA Chapter has a Commander’s Choice Awards banquet.” And to that end I have to say that not every base has commanders that will cooperate with an organization like the Air and Space Forces Association to bring forward names of Airmen, or civilians that work at Minot Air Force Base, to receive Commander’s Choice Awards.
The list of people who helped us to facilitate the Commander’s Choice Awards is long, and at the risk of forgetting someone I will just tell you that from the Jimmy Doolittle Center and 5th Forces Support Squadron, to both the 5th BW and 91st MW, and I cannot forget the many “downtown” merchants who also helped support the awards banquet by making donations so that the recipients would get not only an award but a complimentary meal.
In the crowd at the Awards Banquet were several Honorary Commanders and members of Task Force 21, including Mayor Mark Jantzer. And again, CEO Burt Field was quick to point out that the support that the community gives to the AFA and the Minot Air Force Base to help sponsor these awards is truly special.
And the Commanders Choice Awards recognize Airmen like SrA Kyle Wilson who has worked closely with the Northern Sentry on many projects. I reached out to SrA Wilson and asked him for a quick comment on being chosen one of the recipients. “Being selected for a Commander’s Choice Award is truly humbling. Every day at Minot, Airmen are executing a critical mission, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to play a small role in supporting that alongside such a committed and professional team.”
Anyone who spends time on Minot Air Force Base will be quick to echo what SrA said, and so it was with CEO Burt Field. In his speech he, too, pointed out that “each and every one of you, I assume, is part of a team. Your team has nominated you to receive this award. Together you excel at what you do.”
Our thanks to CEO Burt Field and his wife Lisa for being part of the 42nd Commanders Choice Awards. It was an evening to celebrate the best of the best, and once again be able to recite that often used phrase…”Only The Best Come North”.
Looking Around
If you have some time on the weekend of April 24-26, iMagicon is looking for volunteers to work security and greeting. If you belong to a group that is looking to raise money, send me an email at sentrysales@srt.com and I’ll get you in touch with the folks at iMagicon. It will be a great event so mark your calendars and get your tickets.
Today’s Chuckle
For Maj Tom Barger from Public Affairs…People used to do things by the book because people used to read books.
