AFRICOM Honors Winners at 2014 Annual Awards Ceremony

U.S. Africa Command recognized the outstanding work of its military and civilian personnel at the 2014 Annual Awards event held at Kelley Barracks May 8.



By Chief Mark Richardson United States Africa Command Stuttgart, Germany May 12, 2015
View Gallery
fallback
Gallery contains 1 image

U.S. Africa Command recognized the outstanding work of its military and civilian personnel at the 2014 Annual Awards event held at Kelley Barracks May 8.

Leaders recognized winners of annual awards in the enlisted, senior enlisted, company grade officer, field grade officer, civilian, and the interagency categories.

Army Gen. David M. Rodriguez, commander, along with Command Sgt. Maj. Darrin Bohn, senior enlisted leader, and Ambassador Phillip Carter, deputy to the commander for civil-military engagement, presented the awards.

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Ibetty Alache, an administrative noncommissioned officer with the AFRICOM commandant's office, spent three months on the team that planned the event.

"We do this to show the members we appreciate what they're doing for AFRICOM," Alache said. "A lot of people showed up and cheered for their coworkers."

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

2014 annual award winners

  • Enlisted Member of the Year:   Staff Sgt. Heather D. Buchwalder                          
  • Senior Enlisted Member of the Year: Master Sgt. Kaden B. Brooks             
  • Company Grade Officer of the Year: Capt. Curtis J. Schwarz            
  • Field Grade Officer of the Year:  Maj. Vrettos W. Notaras
  • Civilian CAT I: Yoan A. Alonso
  • Civilian CAT II: Susan P. Kellett-Forsyth                        
  • Civilian CAT III:  Melissa L. Jordan
  • Interagency: Brian T. Johnson

The command also recognized each directorate for their contributions to the 2014 Combined Federal Campaign which saw AFRICOM headquarters raising over $112,000 for CFC-Overseas charity organizations.

 

More in Media Room
U.S. Africa Command Conducts Change of Command Ceremony
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) held a Change of Command ceremony August 15 at Kelley Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany, as Marine Corps General Michael E. Langley formally transferred command to Air Force General Dagvin R.M. Anderson.
Read more
AFRICOM and Kenya Defence forces issue first-ever African chiefs of defense joint communiqué, setting course for continental security opportunities
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) have formally released the first Joint Communiqué to emerge from the African Chiefs of Defense Conference (ACHOD), marking a new phase of coordinated action among African and international defense leaders.
Read more
U.S. Africa Command Quarterly Civilian Harm Assessment Report
Read more
More in Media Room
U.S. Africa Command Conducts Change of Command Ceremony
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) held a Change of Command ceremony August 15 at Kelley Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany, as Marine Corps General Michael E. Langley formally transferred command to Air Force General Dagvin R.M. Anderson.
Read more
AFRICOM and Kenya Defence forces issue first-ever African chiefs of defense joint communiqué, setting course for continental security opportunities
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) have formally released the first Joint Communiqué to emerge from the African Chiefs of Defense Conference (ACHOD), marking a new phase of coordinated action among African and international defense leaders.
Read more
U.S. Africa Command Quarterly Civilian Harm Assessment Report
Read more
More in Media Room
U.S. Africa Command Conducts Change of Command Ceremony
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) held a Change of Command ceremony August 15 at Kelley Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany, as Marine Corps General Michael E. Langley formally transferred command to Air Force General Dagvin R.M. Anderson.
Read more
AFRICOM and Kenya Defence forces issue first-ever African chiefs of defense joint communiqué, setting course for continental security opportunities
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) have formally released the first Joint Communiqué to emerge from the African Chiefs of Defense Conference (ACHOD), marking a new phase of coordinated action among African and international defense leaders.
Read more
U.S. Africa Command Quarterly Civilian Harm Assessment Report
Read more