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Reservist wins national award

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Reed Robertson
  • 446th Airlift Wing
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Firefighters have an undeniable need to help others. Airmen on the other hand live by core values that include service before self.

When these two traits came together here last year, they resulted in Master Sgt. Scott Dellinger earning the 2006 GEICO Military Service Award.

Sergeant Dellinger is a C-17 loadmaster in Air Force Reserve Command's 728th Airlift Squadron. He competed in the fire prevention and safety category against National Guardsmen and reservists from other reserve components for the annual Government Employees Insurance Co. award.

In addition to his job as a reservist, he is a nine-year veteran firefighter for the city of Kent, Wash., and a member of a non-profit organization.

Last year Sergeant Dellinger and a team of firefighters traveled to Mexico to give the town of El Grullo critical fire fighting and emergency medical training and equipment.

When Sergeant Dellinger learned that the town of 25,000 had no fire response capability, he asked one of the townspeople what would happen if the sugarcane plant caught on fire. He learned that because of jurisdiction issues, no assistance would be given and that the plant would be lost.

"Fire departments from the city of Kent and neighboring departments donated a fire engine, all of the necessary clothing and equipment, and even went to a local hospital to donate some medical equipment," Sergeant Dellinger said. "We drove the fire engine down to El Grullo three weeks prior to our trip and then returned to prepare our team to go down to provide training.

"I was excited to be able to go give this training to these volunteers in El Grullo," he said. "They were so appreciative that we would come and donate such important equipment and training."

Sergeant Dellinger's squadron commander, Lt. Col. David Degennaro, said he is proud of what the sergeant has done for his unit, the local community and El Grullo, Mexico.

"He exemplifies Citizen Airmen and is very deserving of this national award," said Colonel Degennaro.

Next stop for Sergeant Dellinger is a trip to Washington, D.C., where he and his wife will attend an award ceremony and he will receive a cash award and several prizes. (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)