USAF Outstanding CCT of the Year

Outstanding CCT of the Year

On Thursday the CCA was invited to Hurlburt Field for the first scheduled event of our Veterans Day weekend. This was the official presentation of the USAF Outstanding Combat Controllers for 2005 Awards. This ceremony was hosted by the 23rd STS in their compound on Hurlburt Field and the Masters of Ceremonies were Major Claude K. Tudor and CMSgt Donald J. (DJ) Cantwell from HQ USAF. The ceremony was presided over by the AFSOC Commander, Lt Gen Michael Wooley, and his comments were heart felt as he knows CCT very well and displays a deep respect for what our guys are doing while forward. I think it may be a little more than him being a being an honorary 23 STS Blue Team member, but that Blue Team Gunslingers hat really helped.

We all gathered in the 23rd auditorium for this event with standing room only for active duty, retired CCT, proud parents and family members of the recipients.

The 2005 Award winners were:

Field Grade Special Tactics Officer of the Year
Major Michael E. Martin
24 STS, Pope AFB, NC

Company Grade Special Tactics Officer of the Year
Captain James Alexander
21 STS, Pope AFB, NC

Combat Control Senior NCO of the Year
MSgt Douglas Fenske
21 STS, Pope AFB, NC

Combat Control NCO of the Year
TSgt Bradley Reilly
23 STS, Hurlburt Field, FL

Combat Control Airman of the Year
SrA Fred Baker, 21 STS
Pope AFB, NC

The awards ceremony was followed by a Special Tactics Display put on by the 23 STS. I get to work with these guys everyday so I know how much work goes into setting up these Static Displays, also known as Dog and Pony’s, but LtCol Eric Ray, Chief Tim Hoye and the men and women of the mighty Two Three really seemed to enjoy talking to the attendees and explaining the newer equipment and updating the CCA members on current tactics techniques and procedures. I saw a couple of retirees looking for a PRC-47, phone patches are not that common these days and thank goodness those 74lbs of love don’t get deployed anymore!
Once again the 23 STS did a great job hosting the awards ceremony and Static display, Thanks!