Deployed chaplain assistant wins ACC-level award

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Abigail Klein
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  The announcement that Senior Airman Martin Gomez, 28th Bomb Wing chaplain assistant, had won the 2008 Air Combat Command Outstanding Chaplain Assistant Airman Award Feb. 13, was cause for celebration, even though he wasn't here.

Airman Gomez, who left three days prior to deploying to Southwest Asia, competed against five other chaplain assistants throughout ACC.

The award recognizes chaplain assistants throughout ACC who go above and beyond in their career fields, said Tech. Sgt. William Huffmon, 28th Bomb Wing NCO in charge of chapel operations and Airman Gomez's supervisor.

"Airman Gomez is definitely at the top of his game," Sergeant Huffmon said. "Even though he's always busy he still makes time for others and manages to be my best chaplain assistant."

Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Norman Ellis, 28th Bomb Wing chaplain, called Airman Gomez to tell him the good news.

"I was pretty excited when Chaplain Ellis told me," Airman Gomez said. "There are many chaplain assistants who work just as hard; I just feel grateful that I won."

Along with his job as a chaplain assistant, Airman Gomez is in an active member of the Ellsworth Honor Guard, leads the Protestant youth activities at the chapel, which has required him to plan, organize and schedule events for the past three years.

He was also responsible for organizing a clothing drive for the children of the Pine Ridge Reservation and organized a holiday toy drive for Cornerstone Mission Rescue Mission.

Airman Gomez continues to surpass his chaplain duties while he is deployed as a Chaplain Corps chaplain assistant. While fulfilling his AF mission by serving more than deployed 4,000 Airmen, Marines, Soldiers and Sailors, he also busy participates in the Honor Guard and works toward completing his Community College of the Air Force degree.

Airman Gomez's award package will next compete at the Air Force-level. Despite the possibility of winning at the Air Force-level, Airmen Gomez remains humble about the possibility of winning.

"To be able to compete at the Air Force level is a huge honor for me," Airman Gomez said. "I am just grateful and privileged to be competing at that level."