Two Westover units earn best-in-command

  • Published
  • By SSgt. George Cloutier
  • 439th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. --  Through the synergy of military and civilian personnel and continued support of operations
overseas, the 439th Civil Engineering Squadron was recently named Air Force
Reserve Command Civil Engineering Unit of the Year. Earlier this year, AFRC announced
that the Westover Fire Department earned best in the command -- achieving the highest
degree of excellence in mission support and fire protection management.

Additionally, the top AFRC Firefighter of the Year title went to Andrew Creech. The
award recognizes a civilian firefighter for superior job performance and outstanding
contributions to the fire service.

Notable accomplishments of base CE include completing $27 million in projects over
the 2012 fiscal year, including a $7 million runway repair.

Westover's CES is made up of 198 traditional reservists, and the full time mission is
carried on by a team of 107 civilians, many former or current military. "We just mesh
together," said SMSgt. Stacy Gilman, 439th CES first sergeant.

Some CE members wear multiple hats, working on the civilian side of the house in their
regular job and donning the uniform during drill weekends. One such member is Capt.
Brett Bailey, 439th CES Chief of Mobility.

"We've done a lot in the last year or two with developing work order programs to help
the CES folks get involved, turning some wrenches, getting their boots dirty and not just
doing their mobility training when they come here on the weekend," Bailey said.

The squadron also received four other AFRC awards:
- best Air Force Civil Engineer Asset Management Flight
- top Air Force Civil Engineer Resources Flight
- top Air Force Civil Engineer Programs Flight
- and the Balchen/Post Award, which recognizes outstanding performance by snow
and ice control personnel during the previous winter. "The Balchen/Post Award is
recognized outside of DoD," said Base Civil Engineer Wayne Williams. The success
of our snow and ice removal is a function of our partnership with Phoenix Management
Incorporated, he said.