• Two Wing members called "best and brightest" by USO
Photos
Master Sgt. Kelly Lawless was honored at the USO of Missouri's ninth annual "Armed Forces Salute"event that was held March 7 in St. Louis. Lawless was among 13 service members selected by the USO calling them "the best and the brightest military men and women in our area." Lawless is a senior forecaster and team leader assigned to the 12th Operational Weather Flight at Scott Air Force Base. Lawless monitors quality control, production and delivery of weather forecasts to 20 active duty bases covering a 24 states. Lawless, who is a reservist, is actively involved with the community. She serves breakfast to the needy at her local church; and is a Brownie troop leader at Westhaven Elementary. Lawless also mentors young gardeners at the base teen center. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Dan Oliver)
Staff Sgt. Blake Witte, of the 932nd Civil Engineer Squadron, was honored by the USO of Missouri at the ninth annual "Salute to Armed Forces" event held March 7. Blake was among 13 local servicemembers the USO recoginized as "the best and brightest" military men and women. In photo, Blake operates a remote-controlled robot using a portable field unit. As an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) specialist, Blake completed a mandatory four-week course prior to his deployment. The training prepares deploying EOD Airmen in ground combat operations training to include: weapons, radio communications, vehicle operations and intelligence briefings in their AOR. (U.S. Air Force photo)
3/10/2013 - SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill -- Two members from the 932nd Airlift Wing were honored by the USO of Missouri during their ninth annual "Armed Forces Salute" event that was held March 7 in St. Louis.
Master Sgt. Kelly Lawless, is a senior weather forecaster assigned to the 12th Operational Weather Flight. Staff Sgt, Blake Witte, an explosive ordnance disposal specialist, is assigned to the 932nd Civil Engineer Squadron.
Lawless and Blake were among 13 area servicemembers who were recognized by the USO of Missouri as among "the best and brightest" military men and women.
Lawless was recognized for excellence in her military duties and her community service. As a senior forecaster, Lawless lead a 24-member team that supports commanders, aircrews and ground forces for the past four years. Her community involvement includes being a Brownie troop leader, serving breakfast to the needy at her local church and mentoring young gardeners and the base teen center.
Witte, as an EOD specialist, successfully executed 90 combat missions, helped mitigate 42 improvised explosive devices and removed 3,500 pounds of explosives from the battlefield, while deployed to Afghanistan. Additionally, while deployed, Witte received the Air Force Combat Action Medal. for having been under hostile fire and engaging hostile forces with lethal fire during military operations. He also was named as the 932nd Airlift Wing NCO of the Year for 2012.
