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Reserve airman breaks the mold during celebration week

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Jason Tudor
  • Air Force Reserve Command Public Affairs
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Some brought friends or colleagues. Some brought wives, husbands and “significant others.” A few others came alone. However, Senior Airman Kris Winder broke the mold and brought a son’s most significant other – his mom.

For the Air Force Reserve Command’s 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year celebration April 17-21, Marcia Smith drove south from Indiana to take part in three days of tours, briefings and meetings with senior leaders. She said she couldn’t be happier about making the trip.

“It’s very important to me and a great honor for him,” Ms. Smith said.

Her son is an operations intelligence specialist assigned to the 701st Combat Operations Squadron at March Air Reserve Base, Calif. He’s served in the Air Force Reserve two years. Airman Winder is one of 19 people nominated for four command-level awards to be presented at a banquet tonight (April 20).

Airman Winder said this isn’t the first time his mother has had a first-hand view of her eldest son’s accomplishments. She was there when he graduated from a technical school in Florida and hasn’t missed a chance to be at other big events in his life.

“She’s always been there for this type of stuff,” the 25-year-old Los Angeles resident said. “I’m glad because the only other time we usually get to see each other is around Christmas.”

Mother and son’s journey to the command’s Outstanding Airmen of the Year celebration started early. Airman Winder said his mother set the rules early-on for both him and his brother.

“We were told at about age 3 that we had to get a degree from a university,” he said. “It was non-negotiable.”

Mom’s advice stuck. Airman Winder earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and is working on a graduate degree in international relations from Pepperdine University. His brother is earning advanced degrees in science.

“They both drove high expectations for themselves,” Ms. Smith said. “I’ve just been there for support.”

Airman Winder served in the Marine Corps Reserve for four years. That stint included an eight-month tour in the Middle East that landed him in Kuwait on his 21st birthday where he performed convoy security and “loved it.” Soon after returning home, while he was contemplating other Marine Corps careers, a Leatherneck senior NCO gave him some career advice.

“He said, ‘You’re too highly trained as a machine gunner to train into anything else,’ and that’s when I knew it was time to leave the Marines,” Airman Winder said.
He didn’t hesitate to join the Air Force Reserve. He had the opportunity to work in the intelligence career field, something he sought. It also meant “more time in the combat zone” and the opportunity to work with the military, something he cherishes.

When Airman Winder finishes his graduate degree, which he’s paying for by valet parking cars in the City of Angels, he’s looking to continue service with the federal government. He’s applied for work with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and is looking into commissioning opportunities.

Ms. Smith admitted she gets her perspective of the military through her son. However, her time listening to AFRC briefings about mission, personnel, intelligence and more yielded one truth.

“What really struck me was that the military has the same sorts of problems other large companies do,” she said.

Mother has been surprised at how well her son has been able to keep the command-level honor and week-long tribute in perspective.

“He’s been very low-key about the whole thing, almost nonchalant,” Ms. Smith said. “When he told me he was being nominated for this level of award, I was extremely excited for him. He always has been very laid back about things like that.”

When the results are announced tonight, Airman Winder will once again have his mother by his side. Would he like to win this one with her by his side?

“It’s definitely way up there,” he said about the chance to win.

His mother’s going home impressed.

“The caliber of people I’ve met this week is unbelievable,” she said. “They are very dedicated and sharp. I’m really glad I was able to be here.”