CP Airman Earns Sharp Wingman Award

  • Published
  • By Bradley J. Clark
  • 908th Airlift Wing
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. --  The 908th Airlift Wing’s senior enlisted members honored a rising Airman with the Sharp Wingman Award during a surprise ceremony June 3 at Maxwell Air Force Base.

The award was presented by the 908th Chiefs Group, led by 908th Airlift Wing Command Chief Master Sgt. Tina Carlson, to Senior Airman Nicholas Johnson, emergency actions controller at the Maxwell Command Post during the June Unit Training Assembly. Following the award presentation Johnson was promoted to Staff Sgt.

“Each quarter the Chiefs Group nominates someone for the award,” said Chief Master Sgt. Leon Alexander, superintendent of the 908th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.

The process for the award forces chiefs to interact with those they don’t directly supervise.

“The nomination must come from outside your own organization,” explained Alexander. “This is so the chiefs can interact with Airmen aside from their own groups.”

The Chiefs Group looks to honor those Airmen that are setting the standards of what right looks like and accomplishing the mission.

“The award recognizes overall outstanding performance,” said Alexander. “But, a lot of time hinders on customer service or those Airmen who go outside of their normal jobs to assist the wing.”

Johnson was a textbook example of just that.

“He works in command post but is always ready and willing to do whatever is necessary to get the mission accomplished,” said Alexander. “I don’t think the phrase ‘not my job’ is in his vocabulary.”

What pushed Johnson over the edge to earn the award this time around was his willingness to take over a key aspect of a wing level event.

“He stepped up to run the audio/visual for the annual awards banquet at the last minute,” said Alexander. “When I say last minute, we are talking the day of the event. Actions like this are not uncommon for him.”