Base racks up more major command awards
Posted 2/14/2013 Updated 2/14/2013
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by Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Foster
66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
2/14/2013 - HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- Air Force Materiel Command recently announced some of its top organizations of 2012 and three of Hanscom's finest have been recognized.
The 66th Security Forces Squadron received the AFMC Outstanding Security Forces Unit Award for the small-size active duty unit and the Hanscom Fire Department won AFMC Small Fire Department of the Year for the second consecutive year.
The 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs office won for best website and best outstanding initiative in social media for "Reaching Community Leaders Through Facebook."
66th Security Forces Squadron
During 2012, the unit deployed 38 percent of its personnel to overseas locations. Their many accomplishments included protecting and evacuating personnel during an indirect fire attack and aircraft crash, with their actions saving 33 lives. Personnel also provided security for 400 aircraft during 91,000 sorties and safeguarded $50 billion worth of NATO assets.
The squadron kept busy locally by sponsoring the Hanscom Air Force Base Kids' Day, where they created and distributed 113 Missing and Exploited Child Identification Kits, investing almost $4,000 in the security of base families. They also collected 6,000 pounds of food for Feds Feed Families and coordinated two Drug Enforcement Administration drug take back events that resulted in 64 pounds of narcotics being destroyed.
"The men and women of the 66 SFS individually are simply amazing in everything they do and, collectively as a team, they are truly outstanding," said Lt. Col. Derrick Weyand, 66 SFS commander. "They have all worked hard and sacrificed to be the best in AFMC. I am proud serve along such great people every day at Hanscom Air Force Base."
Hanscom Fire Department
Throughout the past year, the Hanscom Fire Department mitigated 499 potential disasters worth $6 billion. They were also heavily involved in mutual aid partnerships, delivering support, critical resources and lifesaving responses during 72 incidents. The unit accomplished more than 225 inspections, ensuring compliance for five million square feet in 200 facilities, covering 10,000 personnel with no fire loss.
Additionally, the team sponsored a Fire Prevention Week golf tournament, raising $1,000 to support the youth fire prevention education program and distributed more than $5,000 in educational materials to the Hanscom community.
"I certainly appreciate the professionalism and attention to detail shown by the firefighters at Hanscom," said Bob Hildreth, Hanscom Fire Chief. "We, fortunately, don't have a lot of fires, so our teams of firefighters are devoted to remaining ready for response through a vigorous training program."
66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
During 2012, the Public Affairs office developed a "Connect to Hanscom" fact sheet that showed local community leaders the various ways they could obtain information about the base, while continuing to heavily market and improve its social media presence. Unique web visitors increased to more than 1 million and Facebook and Twitter followers increased by 1,000 percent.
On www.hanscom.af.mil, the team streamlined news stories so visitors could easily find mission stories and base support articles. They also established a Facebook presence at www.facebook.com/HanscomAirForceBase, as the main social networking page for the entire installation. All web updates were featured on Facebook and Twitter, allowing visitors to stay up to date with base happenings.
"These awards demonstrate our commitment to, and success with, treating electronic and social media not as novelties but as critical mission communication tools," said Chuck Paone, Public Affairs director. "I heartily commend the dedicated PA staff members who worked so hard to harness the power of these tools. They were able to provide essential information to our target audiences quickly and clearly while also engaging the larger American public. "
The winning units will now compete at the Air Force level.
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