Photo By 1st Lt. Jonathan Padish | U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Ariana Sandefur, a food services specialist assigned...... read more read more
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Sikeston, Mo. (June 13, 2019) — Normally, a junior enlisted services Airman telling a non-commissioned officer he or she is a little unsure or nervous in the kitchen is a recipe for disaster. Luckily for the Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corporation Tri-State Innovative Readiness Training 2019 mission, the Airman tasked with preparing meals for all troops on the mission is no normal junior enlisted Airman.
Despite only recently graduating from technical training school, U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Ariana Sandefur, a Fortville, Indiana native and food services specialist assigned to the 181st Intelligence Wing, Indiana Air National Guard, took charge of the situation and ensured more than 200 service members were fed dinner after a long day of travel to the mission site.
“I gave her the game plan and she ran with it,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jeffery Coppinger, the food services team leader for the DAEOC Tri-State IRT Sikeston site and fellow member of the 181st IW.
Sandefur knew the importance of her role in the mission. After all, service members cannot perform the mission on empty stomachs.
“If we can’t take care of service members, they can’t do their jobs and take care of the community,” said Sandefur. “Being able to have a hot meal builds morale.”
As the only services troop on site the first day of the training mission, Sandefur had to oversee kitchen services and delegate tasks to volunteers — daunting tasks for a new Airman. Despite the challenge, Sandefur strove to complete the mission.
“She worked all day,” said Coppinger. “She easily worked 15 hours and didn’t complain. Not even once.”
To Sandefur, the work provided an opportunity to learn. After all, she is part of a training mission.
“This is definitely a learning environment,” said Sandefur. “It’s also my first time being out and meeting people from other branches of the military. I’m really excited to get new experience.”
That forward-thinking mentality, coupled with her tireless effort to ensure service members were fed, was recognized by senior leaders with the first challenge coin of the mission.
The mission leaders recognize Sandefur’s hard work and everything she is doing here, according to U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Andrew Adamich, the DAEOC Tri-State IRT mission officer-in-charge and chief of optometry services for the Alaska Air National Guard.
Historically, challenge coins are presented by unit commanders to recognize superior performance by a member of the unit. By receiving such a coin, Sandefur will be able to reflect on what is shaping up to be a promising start to her military career.
| Date Taken: | 06.13.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 06.13.2019 16:48 |
| Story ID: | 327321 |
| Location: | SIKESTON, MISSOURI, US |
| Hometown: | FORTVILLE, INDIANA, US |
| Hometown: | TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA, US |
| Web Views: | 274 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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