BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. –
Beale's Command Post was recently recognized as the 2014 "Large Command Post of the Year," by the Air Force Reserve Command. Not only was the whole work center awarded, but Staff Sgt. Brittainy Ward, was also singled out as "Command Post Noncommissioned Officer of the Year" by AFRC.
The Command Post is a part of the Air Force's global network of command and control nerve centers that respond to medical, weather, or aircraft emergencies. They track aircraft, coordinate emergency responses, and route potentially life-saving notifications.
The 24-hr central hub is a combined work center, with 28 30 active-duty and Reserve members, working together seamlessly. This past year, they coordinated support of presidential and nuclear defense missions and missile watch operations critical to national defense. Command Post personnel wrote operating instructions used by both active-duty and reservists, trained hundreds of personnel, and revised several existing programs.
Airman 1st Class Holly Sanchez, 9th Reconnaissance Wing emergency action controller, finds working and training with her Reserve counterparts to be vital to her understanding of the base's intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.
"I like having access to the 940th Wing's continuity of knowledge," Sanchez said. "Most of the reservists have been here for many years and provide insight for the different situations that may come up."
Ward, 940th Wing senior emergency action controller and reports manager, credits their success to the extensive annual and monthly job training requirements.
"It doesn't matter what major command we fall under because everyone has the same training requirements, whether they work two days a month or 30 days, everyone must maintain the same level of proficiency," she said.
This is the third time in four years they've won "Large Command Post of the Year" and Senior Master Sgt. Semaj McGhee, Command Post superintendent, said the people are the reason for the office's continued success.
"Every Command Post position is integral to our mission success, so every single Airman's contribution is important," McGhee said.
Ward agreed and said the total force unit is dedicated to completing whatever task, however great or small, to reach their goals.
McGhee said working at this base definitely provides a greater scope for Airmen because Beale fulfills several ISR missions with different airframes.
"Working at this associated Command Post gives our Airmen an amazing opportunity to experience working with several different airframes like the U-2 Dragon Lady or the RQ-4 Global Hawk that may have normally taken them two or three assignments to receive," he said.