Afghanistan: And The Winner Is!

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

02.28.2010

Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Elizabeth Burke 

NATO Training Mission Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan -- The Mission Support Group of the Afghan National Army Air Corps - Kabul Wing, held its first ever quarterly awards on Feb. 27, at the ANAAC base conference center in Kabul, Afghanistan.

"Discipline in the military is like oxygen and water in life," said Col. Zalmai, Commander, Mission Support Group, ANAAC Kabul Wing, during his speech to the more than 200 Afghan and Coalition attendees.

Military bearing and job performance were the key criteria used in determining the award winners. The Mission Support Group consists of the following five squadrons: civil engineering, communications, logistics, security forces and services. Each of the squadrons nominated three individuals, one from each rank category: Soldier, Non-Commissioned Officer and Officer. Of these 15 squadron-level winners, five individuals were selected as this quarter's group-level winners.

"I'm very happy. This is my first award. I have maintained communications for my unit and served my country," said Pvt. Mohammad Awaz, of the Communications Squadron, an Air Corps veteran of three years.

This award program mirrors that of the United States Air Force and was suggested to the MSG Commander, Zalmai by his American mentor Col. Jeffrey Meyer. This performance award is similar to a recognition program being used by the Ministry of Defense which has a monetary award. It has been proposed that the winners of the quarterly awards be submitted as nominees for the Ministry of Defense annual awards.

Since Afghanistan follows a solar calendar, these awards were issued for the 3rd quarter of the solar year 1388. This ground-breaking effort took eight weeks to complete, but the program is expected to continue.

Commander of the 439th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron, Combined Air Power Transition Force, and MSG mentor, Meyer said it best: "The ANAAC has taken this idea and run with it. They ran the awards board, setup the Commander's Call and posted pictures of the winners. Colonel Zalmai and his staff recognize the strategic benefits of the program. It not only provides a reward for good performance but also reinforces the expected standard of behavior and encourages patriotism and national identity."

• Date Taken: 02.28.2010
• Date Posted: 02.28.2010 06:16
• Story ID: 45950
• Location: KABUL, AF