Photo By Dustin Senger | U.S. Army Central senior enlisted leaders stand proudly with Air Force Tech. Sgt....... read more read more
CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, Qatar — U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Kerry Thompson, from Camden, Ark., received a certificate of recognition from Col. Maxine C. Girard, U.S. Army Central Area Support Group Qatar commander, for exceptional performance as a military investigator at Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar, Aug. 27. Girard congratulated Thompson for earning the top Air Mobility Command leadership award for professionalism, selfless service and courage in combat.
"Please help me in congratulating Tech. Sgt. Kerry Thompson for receiving the AMC Sijan award," said Girard. The prestigious Air Force Lance P. Sijan leadership award, named after a Medal of Honor recipient, recognizes airmen for remarkable performance and conduct.
Next, Thompson will present himself confidently at the Air Force level to a panel of senior enlisted leaders and general officers in Washington, D.C. Airmen from 10 major commands will compete: Air Combat Command; Air Education and Training Command; Air Force Global Strike Command; Air Force Materiel Command; Air Force Reserve Command; Air Force Space Command; Air Force Special Operations Command; Pacific Air Force Command; U.S. Air Force in Europe; and Air Mobility Command, represented by Thompson.
His AMC-level Sijan package highlighted actions while assigned to an Army special forces unit in Afghanistan, where he spent six months serving as a canine handler in 2008. Although competing for a top leadership award at the Pentagon may cause most to stutter, Thompson said: "It can't be as stressful as being shot at in Afghanistan."
"I found a lot of improvised explosive devices and got into a lot of fire fights," said Thompson, recalling Afghanistan. For his actions, he received an Air Force Commendation Medal with Valor, Army Commendation medal, Air Force Combat Action Medal and Army Combat Action badge.
"Most of all, I want the Sijan board members to understand that the security forces are in the fight — we are a credible fighting force," he said.
"We grow our leaders early in the security forces," said Capt. Robert Lord, 379th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron deputy provost marshal at the Qatar base. "We immediately hold them to a higher standard. Only a handful of Air Force career fields have airmen leading a ground fight."
"I've led as enlisted, now I want to lead as an officer," said Thompson. After 14 years in the enlisted ranks, he's preparing for promotion to second lieutenant. His seventh overseas assignment positioned him in Qatar, which he considers easy duty after exposure to operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"Tech Sergeant Thompson is exactly what we need in a Security Forces officer," said Lord. "As a trained investigator, I am a pretty good judge of character." Commissioned as a tech sergeant, Lord has become a mentor for Thompson in Qatar.
The 2009 Air Force Sijan award will recognize four recipients: a senior officer, junior officer, senior enlisted and junior enlisted. Results are expected in early 2010.
| Date Taken: | 08.27.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 08.27.2009 10:01 |
| Story ID: | 38018 |
| Location: | CAMP AS SALIYAH, QA |
| Web Views: | 617 |
| Downloads: | 531 |
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