Services wins top NGB award

KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Louisville, Ky. -- The Kentucky Air Guard's 123rd Services Flight has been named the 2007 Services Flight of the Year by the National Guard Bureau, officials announced June 10. 

At home station, the 29-member flight operates dining facilities, lodging services, recreational activities, mortuary affairs and honor guard details for Airmen assigned to the Louisville, Ky.-based 123rd Airlift Wing. 

That role expands during deployments to include the operation of mobile field kitchens and other support activities. 

The National Guard Bureau award recognizes the flight's exceptional performance in a variety of deployed and non-deployed settings throughout 2006, said Brig. Gen. Michael Dornbush, the Kentucky Air Guard's chief of staff. 

"A lot of folks don't realize how often this unit has gone outside Kentucky to provide comfort and relief," General Dornbush said during an award ceremony held in the Base Annex on June 10. 

Citing deployments to West Virginia, Mississippi and Louisiana following flooding and hurricanes, the general said he was trying to paint a picture of "29 very engaged people." 

"This has always been a unit of excellence, but these folks have taken it to the next level," General Dornbush told the audience. 

Col. William Ketterer, commander of the 123rd Operations Group, took the opportunity to thank family members for their role in the flight's success. 

"It takes a lot of sacrifice on the part of family members to support these Airmen, and I really appreciate that," he said. 

Addressing the unit's members directly, flight commander Capt. Robert Geary said he was "very blessed to have you as a part of my team." 

"This award is all about you, your efforts and your dedication," he said. "You guys are the best." 

Two members of flight also were recognized for exceptional individual achievement. 

·Senior Airman Brittany Ingram was named the 2007 Services Airman of the Year for both the Air National Guard and the entire Air Reserve Component. 

·Tech. Sgt. Wendy Haight was named the 2007 Air National Guard Services NCO of the Year and the 2007 Base Honor Guard Program Manager of the Year.