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Tyndall AFB comptrollers support base rebuild, win Air Force award

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Stefan Alvarez
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) --  

A team of comptrollers from the 325th Comptroller Squadron, Tyndall Air Force Base, received the Gen. Larry O. Spencer Special Acts and Services award for assisting in more than 11,000 people from the 325th Fighter Wing with their finances before, during and after Hurricane Michael made landfall in October 2018.

The award recognizes service members and civilians who have exhibited a selfless spirit of service to others.

Tyndall AFB’s 325th CPTS members’ earned the award through selflessness and dedication to the safety of others and the reconstruction efforts from the moment the evacuation order was given to when the base needed to be rebuilt.

“Our team had a vital role in the base getting back on its feet,” said Senior Master Sgt. Carlos Cintron, 325th CPTS superintendent. “They modified per diem to make sure everyone helping us was getting paid and were able to use their government travel cards to pay for lodging. Due to the nature of the situation, we had to increase everyone’s limits and extend cutoffs and deadlines.”

There was a lot of personnel and resources that needed to be taken care of. That meant securing future funds to pay the military and civilian personnel before Hurricane Michael made landfall.

"There was a lot to do before the hurricane reached our shores,” Cintron said. “Despite the evacuation order, the team had worked hard to ensure the next several months of pay for the civilians went smoothly. They made sure the personnel and base assets were accounted for. We have a $1 billion portfolio that needed to be rock solid before the storm came.”

Once the hurricane passed, the 325th CPTS came right back and started helping to organize the rebuild after the destruction of the Category 5 hurricane.

“There was a lot of work to be done after the storm passed,” Cintron said. “We held briefings, overhauled the permanent change of station program, established new guidelines and had to fill gaps in several programs to make sure that the base had help where it needed it most.”

This group was vital in securing the safety and wellbeing of the base’s population and continued to work and dedicate their time despite most of the facilities being badly damaged. They rose to the challenge and helped get the 325th FW back on its feet.

“I’m proud of this team and what they’ve accomplished," Cintron said. “A lot of people came back after the hurricane and lost everything. They embody what it means to be an Airman. They could have easily left to another base when they were offered, but they chose to stay and help their wingmen and their families, and that is nothing short of outstanding.”

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