U.S. Africa Command honored the best of the best during the 2013 Annual Awards event held at Kelley Barracks, U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart, Germany, March 31, 2014. 

The awards ceremony celebrated the outstanding service and achievements of all nominees over the course of the previous fiscal year.

Army Gen. David M. Rodriguez, Commander, along with Command Sergeant Major Darrin Bohn, Senior Enlisted Leader, Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Steven Hummer, Deputy to the Commander for Military Operations, and Ambassador Phillip Carter, Deputy to the Commander for Civil-Military Engagement, presented the award certificate and a djembe drum to each award winner. 

Wikipedia describes a djembe (pronounced JEM-be) as a rope-tuned skin-covered goblet-shaped drum played with bare hands, originally from West Africa.  According to the Bamana people in Mali, the name of the djembe comes from the saying "Anke djé, anke bé" which translates to "everyone gather together in peace" and defines the drum's purpose. The djembe has a body (or shell) carved of hardwood and a drumhead made of untreated rawhide.  The djembe can produce a wide variety of sounds, making it a most versatile drum.

The winners also received either a Joint Service Achievement Medal or a Joint Civilian Service Achievement Award, and a time off award. 

The categories and winners were:
Enlisted Member of the Year: IS2 Kristen M McDonald-J2-Molsworth
                             
Senior Enlisted Member of the Year: SMSgt Justin K Sturn-J4
             
Company Grade Officer of the Year: LT Gregory Tornambe-J3
                
Field Grade Officer of the Year:  MAJ John P Ringquist-J5

Civilian CAT I: Kathleen M Cannon-J1/8

Civilian CAT II:  Robert D Sestan-J4
                        
Civilian CAT III:  Stephanie M Baessier-J3

Interagency: Shawna B Doherty-J2

AFRICOM Command Instruction (ACI 1100.02) Awards and Decoration has more information on the quarterly and yearly awards and the requirements for nominating members for the categories. 

Congratulations to all U.S. AFRICOM’s 2013 Annual Award winners!

For more picture of the ceremony and all-hands visit our FLICKR page or click here.