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EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska - Two 354th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal technicians were recently named Pacific Air Forces' 2011 Non-commissioned Officer of the Year and Senior Non-commissioned Officer of the Year, respectively.
Tech. Sgt. Matthew Stark, 354th CES EOD flight quality assurance section chief, and Master Sgt. William Kellum, 354th CES EOD flight superintendent, first had to win at the squadron, group, wing and 11th Air Force level before reaching PACAF. The two are now preparing to compete at the Air Force level.
Despite the accolades, the two have made it a point to work toward carrying out the mission rather than working toward winning an award, saying that the effort put in for their job outweighs any effort for recognition.
"Don't make it your point to [win these awards] for any level - don't make it your goal because you'll shoot yourself in the foot," said Stark. "You just have to do a good job every day. Sometimes you'll get recognized and other times you'll do a great job and no one will pat you on the back. But don't let that get you down. Just keep going and keep doing a good job."
In addition to deployments and various duty assignments, including Kellum's recent assistance in Vietnam with the recovery of four prisoners of war, the two oversee a vast range of responsibilities here, such as supporting the Red Flag - Alaska mission by enabling pilots' use of the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex.
"There's nothing really special about it - I think that's the way we are," Kellum said. "Nobody tells us what to do most of the time; there's a mission that has to be done and that's it."
While each has faced different obstacles throughout their career, both Kellum and Stark credit the effort to their team at Eielson in reaching this level of success. Regardless of the individual receiving the award, the accomplishment itself falls back on other people, they said.
"The biggest thing I can say is that I don't feel that this is just on me. It's a team thing, not just a sole achievement," Kellum said. "It's a testament to this flight, and this base has had many accomplishments. We are a small part of those accomplishments, but being selected all the way through is a great honor."
Senior Master Sgt. Heath Tempel, 354th CES EOD flight chief, said Kellum and Stark have been outstanding leaders within the shop and have set an example for their peers.
"Their excellence has been broadcast and it's something they need to live up to, and no doubt they will," said Tempel. "I've got a shop full of all-stars, and they are definitely two of them. I feel very blessed to have these people work with me."
| Date Taken: | 04.17.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 04.17.2012 18:15 |
| Story ID: | 86891 |
| Location: | EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, ALASKA, US |
| Hometown: | EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, ALASKA, US |
| Web Views: | 149 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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