Pope wins Aircrew Flight Equipment Program of Year

  • Published
  • By Allison Janssen
  • 440th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
The 440th Operations Support Squadron's Aircrew Flight Equipment team was recently chosen as the Air Force Reserve Command's Outstanding AFE program for 2015, receiving their official award from Col. Karl Schmitkons, 440th Airlift Wing commander, during a commander's call here June 5.

The 440th AFE team received the award for their actions of lasting impact and the value they added to the 440th AW mission and the Air Force Reserve.

"I think what made us successful is that we are not the average shop, stated Staff Sgt. Amber Palama, 440th AFE. "Our team is made up of both active duty members and reservists. At one point we had approximately 35 members. As a total force team, we never confined our expectations of each other by our military status or labels. Our leadership really brought us all together as one AFE team; one family who worked together to get the mission done."

The team received a number of awards and recognitions in their time at Pope, including AFE Program of the Year in 2009 and 2011. Even with unit closure on the horizon in 2016, this team of experts didn't lose their winning spirit. Instead, they chose to work even harder, pushing to make a lasting impact both here and across the Air Force.

Palama, along with Staff Sgt. Scott Perry and Tech. Sgt. Canvis Thomas, echoed one another saying that the pending closure gave every team member that extra bit of fire to really shine and give their work everything they possibly could.

Their acute knowledge and expertise led them to be chosen by the Air Force to pilot the implementation of the Defense Property and Accountability System inside the 440th AFE program. Through dedication to excellence, the 440th AFE team fully materialized DPAS into their program, enabling accountability of $28 million of equipment, preventing 356 erroneous error tickets and training 226 AFE technicians on the system for Air Force use.

"DPAS is huge for the Air Force AFE Community," stated Perry. "Due to our testing and design success here at Pope Field, the Air Force implemented DPAS quickly, which will ensure the Air Force AFE Community can more easily forecast AFE needs across the spectrum of operations."

In reflecting upon her team being named Outstanding AFE Program of the Year for the command, Palama heartfully stated, "For me, the recognition was bitter sweet. It felt so good to be up there, but I got a little choked up knowing it would be the last time I would get to stand with our group as a whole. At the same time though, I felt so proud of what we have accomplished together."