MacDill holds joint Knuckle Buster Award Ceremony

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Peter Dean
  • 927th Air Refueling Wing/Public Affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  'If it's in the air...MXG put it there'

Maintainers from the active duty 6th Maintenance Group and the Air Force Reserve 927th Maintenance Group came together to recognize the best of the best during a joint Knuckle Buster Award Ceremony held here April 10.

Many throughout the local community as well as many folks on base see the KC-135 soaring above, but few know the blood, sweat and tears that goes into  getting and keep these aging 'birds' airborne.

"From a TFI [Total Force Integration] prospective we all bleed blue, every single one of us," said Lt. Col. Stephanie Mehner, 927th Maintenance Group Commander. "It's a team effort, we work hard, every single one of you, and it doesn't go unnoticed. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, I know you guys sweat and sweat and sweat...Thank you."

The maintainers' commitment to excellence throughout the year resulted in more 1034 sorties flown, 3,497 flying hours logged and more than 13.3 million pounds of fuel offloaded to 1,989 receivers.

Unlike many other Air Force awards that are 'package' driven, the Knuckle Buster awards are voted on by their peers.

The year's awardee's are:

The Peer Award

Tech. Sgt.  Laddy Cone, 6TH AMXS
Staff Sgt. Anthony Costello, 927TH AMXS
Tech. Sgt.  Matthew Dowden, 6TH AMXS
Senior Airman Luke Makovic, 927TH AMXS
Staff Sgt.  Justin Rosen, 6TH AMXS
Senior Airman Caleb Seitz, 927TH AMXS

FLYING CREW CHIEFS OF THE YEAR

Staff Sgt. Kyle Gahring, 6TH AMXS
Staff Sgt. Billy Mitchell, 927 AMXS

THE CMSGT THOMAS N. BARNES CREW CHIEF OF THE YEAR

Tech. Sgt. Jason Riker, 6TH AMXS
Master Sgt. Kenneth Hair, 927 AMXS

THE SENIOR NCO, AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE

Master Sgt. Danny Kriz, 6 AMXS

THE LEO MARQUEZ AWARD

Senior Airman Wendy Ready, 911 Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Airman 1st Class Ashley Evans, 6 AMXS
Tech Sgt. John Turrill, 6 MXG
Staff Sgt. Russell Fenimore, 6 MXG
Senior Master Sgt. Chad Ream, 6 AMXS
Capt. Matthew Ratcliffe, 6 MXG
Maj. Robert Ryder, 6 AMXS

THE MAINTENANCE QUALIFICATION TRAINING PROGRAM INSTRUCTOR OF THE YEAR AWARD

Staff Sgt. John Mcdermott, 6 MXG

THE QUALITY ASSURANCE INSPECTOR OF THE YEAR AWARD

Tech. Sgt. Madeline Herbst, 927 MXG

THE 2014 OUTSTANDING MAINTENANCE PROFESSIONALS OF THE YEAR

Senior Airman Michael Lewis, 6 AMXS
Senior Airman Chad Daso, 927 AMXS
Tech. Sgt. Ryan Williams, 99TH Air Refueling Squadron
Staff Sgt.  Leonardo Velez, 927 MXG
Master Sgt. Robert Morris, 6 AMXS
Master Sgt. Jose Quirindongo, 927 AMXS

All photos can be viewed and downloaded on the 927 ARW facebook and Flickr pages.