Kentucky Air Guard recruiters honored with regional and national awards

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Philip Speck
  • 123rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, LOUISVILLE, Ky. --  Two Kentucky Air National Guard recruiters have been honored with regional and national awards from the National Guard Bureau that recognize excellent performance during 2012.

Tech. Sgt. Anthony Walker, a recruiter in the 123rd Airlift Wing here, won the national-level "Medicine Man" award for being the top health-professions recruiter nationwide. Walker brought in 13 health professionals during 2012, including three doctors. On average, a good health-professions recruiter might bring in one doctor a year, according to Senior Master Sgt. Brett Dew, recruiting and retention superintendent for the Kentucky Air National Guard.

Tech. Sgt. Lawrence Wigginton, another recruiter in the 123rd Airlift Wing, was awarded "Top Rookie Recruiter" for Region IV. That award is given to outstanding new recruiters in their first 24 months on the job, Dew said. Wigginton enlisted 70 Airmen in 2012, more than doubling the average of about 30 enlistments annually. He finished the year at 330 percent of his assigned goal.

"In an extremely tough career field, the Kentucky Air Guard is fortunate to have two of the best recruiting professionals the Air Guard has to offer," Dew said. "I thought personally (Wigginton) could have won the national award for Rookie Recruiter of the Year, but I'm sure he just missed it."

Both recruiters are now eligible to wear the Recruiter Gold Badge on their service dress uniforms as an indicator of excellent performance.