FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Air Force Reservists and Employers Get National Salute

August 2007

Arlington, Virginia – Air Force Reservists and Employers of reservists will receive Air Force Association awards on September 24, 2007 at the Air & Space Conference 2007 Opening and Awards Ceremonies in Washington, D.C.

The Citizen Airman Awards are given to a traditional Air Force Reserve officer and enlisted member and their civilian employers in honor of all Air Force Reserve members serving the nation.

Major Thomas N. Jensen, Assistant Standardization/Evaluation Chief, 97th Airlift Squadron, 446th Airlift Wing, McChord Air Force Base, Wa., and his civilian employer, Alaska Airlines, Seattle, Wa., represented by Captain Tom Kemp, will be recognized. Alaska Airlines employs 126 Air Force Reservists who are routinely deployed to support OPERATION IRAQI and ENDURING FREEDOM and has invested $800K in additional training cost for returning reservists.

Senior Master Sergeant Kenneth C. Crosby, Aeromedical Evacuation Technician, 914th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, Niagara Falls Air Reserve Base, N.Y., and his civilian employer, Middle Atlantic Warehouse Distributor, Inc., Tonawanda, N.Y., will also receive the Citizen Airman Award. The senior master sergeant’s outstanding professional skill, leadership and ceaseless efforts were vital to the mission-readiness of the squadron during two 120 day deployments in support of OPERATIONS IRAQI and ENDURING FREEDOM. His civilian employer has been extremely supportive, granting him leaves of absences without hesitation, continued his health insurance during the deployments and openly acknowledged his military participation to his coworkers.

The Citizen Airman Award includes a $500 AFA check and plaque. The Air Force Reserve will also provide a large ceramic eagle to the employers.

Additional Reserve awards scheduled for presentation include the Outstanding Reserve Unit of the Year Award to the 446th Airlift Wing, McChord Air Force Base, Wa., and the AFA President’s Award – recognizing the outstanding Reserve aircrew, the 446th Airlift Wing, McChord Air Force Base, Wa.

The 446th Airlift Wing consistently demonstrates excellence. As pioneers of the Total Force, these wingmen meet America’s global airlift requirements through the unique capabilities of the C-17 in a protracted asymmetric war while concurrently supporting worldwide needs of other regional commanders in extreme conditions. At the same time, these Citizen Airmen balance demands of families, civilian employers and country, while being a great partner in the civilian community.

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For more information, contact Lynette Cross, Air Force Association at (703) 247.5800, Ext 4807 or email: lcross@afa.org.

The Air Force Association (AFA) is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization that educates the public about the critical role of aerospace power in the defense of our nation, advocates aerospace power and a strong national defense, and supports the United States Air Force and the Air Force family. AFA has more than 230 chapters nationally and internationally representing more than 130,000 members. Visit AFA on the internet at www.afa.org.