Image, Inc., Meritorious Service Award winners announced

News > Image, Inc., Meritorious Service Award winners announced

Image, Inc., Meritorious Service Award winners announced

Posted 6/7/2011

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6/7/2011 - RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) -- Air Force officials presented the winners of the 2011 National Image, Inc., Meritorious Service Award at a recognition event in Orlando, Fla., April 28.

The award recognizes service members and Department of Defense civilian employees who supported the DOD mission, overseas contingency operations, or whose attributes best epitomized the qualities and core values of their respective military service or agency.

The winners are Tech. Sgt. Shari Owoh from Lajes Field, Azores, and Bernard Bruce from Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.

Sergeant Owoh was recognized for her leadership in promoting programs and activities advocating equal opportunity for women and minorities. She served as the vice president of the African American Heritage Committee, treasurer of the Cultural Diversity Awareness Council, and as the project officer for the first Bolling AFB, Washington, Women's History Month conference. Her efforts led to the collection of more than 300 backpacks for the Santa Rita Hill Portuguese School.

Mr. Bruce served as the historian for the Phoenix chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen. He shared the Tuskegee Airmen's personal stories and core values to promote a positive understanding of the U.S. Air Force, while highlighting the relationship between minorities and women and the opportunities available to them in the military. His efforts raised awareness of the contributions of individuals from diverse backgrounds and led to more than $5,000 in honorariums being donated for the Tuskegee Airmen Scholarship Fund.

For more information on Air Force recognition programs, visit the Air Force personnel services website.

(Courtesy of Air Force Personnel, Services and Manpower Public Affairs)

Comments

6/8/2011 5:12:26 PM ET
Well Chris I am sure that your Airmen are happy to have you as a boss. The award said nothing about race but you somehow have made it about race based on their accomplishments. Seeing as your values don't seem to line up with the Air Force's do us all a favor and hit the quit button in MPF. That way you don't have to submit anyone for anything and therefore violate the AF core values.

SMSgt F, Kuwait

6/8/2011 3:57:07 PM ET
I agree 100 percent with Chris. This sounds like an incident waiting to happen.

Anthony, Lackland AFB

6/8/2011 2:41:24 PM ET
After looking up the criteria for this award, it indeed states the award recognizes service members and Department of Defense civilian employees who supported the DOD mission overseas contingency operations, or whose attributes best epitomized the qualities and core values of their respective military service or agency. To me, this criteria mentions nothing about race so I assume anyone could be put in for it. However, this award is sponsored by the DOD Office of Diversity Management and Equal Opportunity so I would think the expectation is it is awarded to minorities. Not taking away from the awardees contributions but just how did they support contingency operations?

RMA, SA

6/8/2011 1:58:44 PM ET
I despise these diversity promoting race or gender-based awards. How exactly is it okay for us as an organization to celebrate or recognize someone based mainly on some genetic or hereditary demographic characteristic without that being racism or sexism? The answer is that it isn't okay. It is racism and or sexism to do so. Don't think so. How about giving an award to the best white male in your squadron? That would be fine right? I don't think so. You can imagine the howls of racism such an award would generate. And rightly so. Of course the apologists for these racist awards will tell you anyone is eligible to win but we know however what the intended ideal winner is supposed to look like... Until these discriminatory awards go away and we only celebrate our best for their contributions instead of for their race or gender, I will continue to nominate and write the strongest awards package possible for the strongest person in my unit who does NOT fit the intende ...

Timmy O'Toole, EO Utopia

6/8/2011 12:27:47 PM ET
Chris, you have a right to voice your opinion, obviously. However, I do not think that a public AF forum is a place to do that when you are part of it. My turn... Even if this award was race-based, I can see why you were not submitted. You are lacking in the core values area yourself. It's a shame you even have a desk and folks to mentor if thats really the case. I highly suggest you pass all packages on to GROWN folks to review because you cant get past your own personal views/opinions and may miss the chance to recognize a Airman who deserves it. I may not agree with all things in the AF, but that is my opinion. I will not make MY AIRMAN suffer because I have a problem. Advice leave your desk spend time with your folks and reflect on what I just said.

Magnum, Travis AFB

6/7/2011 2:40:29 PM ET
Wow. Here we go again with race-based awards. I guess I'm okay with these as long as they don't come across my desk. I will not recommend my folks for ANYTHING based on race.

Chris, Offutt AFB

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