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Reservists, employers, units receive Air Force awards

  • Published
WASHINGTON --  Two Citizen Airmen, their employers and two Air Force Reserve Command units are among those slated to be honored at the Air Force Association's national convention in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25.

Each year the AFA recognizes an enlisted person and an officer, who deployed during the previous year, and their employers who supported them while they were gone.

This year's enlisted recipient is Chief Master Sgt. Joe Cholopisa Jr., 301st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Carswell Field, Texas. His employer is Deen Meats and Cooked Foods of Fort Worth.

Capt. William C. McLeod, 442nd Maintenance Group, Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., earned the officer award. His employer is Aquila, Inc., an energy supplier based in Kansas City, Mo.

AFA's Outstanding Reserve Aircrew Award (President's Award) went to the Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center, a joint Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard facility in St. Joseph, Mo. The center earned the award for demonstrating an increase in overall mission effectiveness. The center is currently commanded by a reservist.

The 482nd Fighter Wing, Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla., is AFA's Outstanding Reserve Unit (Flying Wing). It received the award for demonstrated superior performance and outstanding achievement. (AFRC News Service)