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Duke Airman earns AF honors

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Samuel King Jr.
  • 919th Special Operations Wing public affairs
DUKE FIELD, Fla. --  A 5th Special Operations Squadron Airman was recently selected as the Air Force's Force Support NCO of the Year for 2011.

Tech. Sgt. Nina Stubbs, a reservist working man-days with the 551st Special Operations Squadron at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., earned the distinction completing all administrative and personnel duties for the squadron's students and permanent party.

"TSgt Stubbs has always been a phenomenal troop, and this award is very well deserved," said Lt. Col. Pat Ryan, 5th SOS commander. "This clearly demonstrates the talent level we are fortunate to have recruited into 5th SOS and the Air Force Reserve."

Stubbs said after coming off of leave everyone was congratulating her and she didn't know why. Once she saw the email, it all made sense.

"I was grateful, but humbled at the same time," she said. "I love my job and love helping people."

Among some of the quality bullets in her awards package was the fact she was named Air Force Special Operations Training Command support NCO of the quarter and helped "crush" the squadron's unit compliance inspection leading to the squadron receiving the top squadron distinction.

The active-duty 551st conducts initial mission qualification and upgrade training for the AC-130H, MC-130W/J, CV-22, remotely piloted aircraft and all non-standard aviation platforms.