ACC recognizes Ellsworth excellence

  • Published
  • By Airman Ashley J. Thum
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  Air Combat Command recently rewarded four units on base for their commitment to carry out their individual missions and for their continued efforts toward improvement.

The 28th Force Support Squadron Military Personnel Section, Bellamy Fitness Center, Arts and Crafts center, along with the 28th Bomb Wing Equal Opportunity Office, received awards from ACC for their exceptional programs.

Second Lt. Kristen Miranda, 28th FSS MPS flight chief, said Ellsworth's MPS placed first out of 45 bases for their processes and procedures, which led to her unit receiving the award for best small MPS.

"We are also number one in the Air Force for EPR (enlisted performance report) and OPR (officer performance report) timeliness with a 94 percent on-time rate," Miranda added. "We have all worked incredibly hard to keep our ranking up on the personnel action report and it has paid off."

Richard Ives, 28th FSS Bellamy Fitness Center director, and his staff won the ACC award for best fitness and sports program for the second year in a row. He said Ellsworth's fitness center has accomplished a great deal during the past year.

"We changed out our entire cardio fitness equipment line in less than one year - normally that would take three to five years," Ives explained. "The funding we have received from both 28th Mission Support Group and 28th Bomb Wing entities has been remarkable. Take a look at the Pride Hangar enhancements - an indoor soccer field, new four-lane track, restroom upgrades and a rock wall and group exercise area."

Although it may be small in size, Staff Sgt. Jessica Tabor, 28th BW EO advisor, said the EO Office is big on initiative.

"We're a proactive office," Tabor said. "We try to correct things before they become a problem. Instead of waiting for people to come to us, we try to get out and allow people to put a face to our name so they feel more comfortable coming to us."

Tabor explained each EO unit must complete one "out and about" per quarter, but she and Don Bell, 28th BW EO Office director, exceeded their goal for 2012 by approximately 200 percent.

Gale Thompson, 28th FSS Community Services flight chief, said the Arts and Crafts program on base is both complex and efficient.

"I think we received the award because we are continually seeking innovative techniques to keep our operating costs as low as possible and to expand the services and products where we can, while keeping product quality as high as possible," Thompson added.

While the awards from ACC highlight specific work centers, the winners were quick to emphasize they owe their success to the support they receive from the entire base.

"It's definitely a team effort," Tabor said. "It shows the support we have."

Ives agreed by saying "You don't win command-level awards by yourself. Although we get to display the plaque on the fitness center wall, it's a combined effort from many base agencies."

Thompson said Ellsworth's Arts and Crafts program has a close working relationship with the base Exchange and other 28th FSS units that allows it to keep prices low and offer unique services to Airmen and their families.

"We will continue to do what got us this far - maintain our already high service standards and provide 100 percent customer satisfaction," Thompson added.

Miranda explained she and her Airmen have set the standard for several MPS programs in ACC, including commander's support staff training, Air Force deployment folders and Military Personnel Data System upgrade testing. She added the MPS personnel are who make it all happen.

"My Airmen are fantastic and they are being recognized for all of the amazing work that they do every single day that the Ellsworth populace does not see," Miranda said. "I am proud and humbled to work with such a fantastic group of people."