U.S. NAVAL AIR STATION JOINT RESERVE BASE FORT WORTH, Texas -- Distinguished visitors met Airmen in several shops within the 301st Fighter Wing at U.S. Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas, over the two-day February unit training assembly.
Maj. Gen. Brian Borgen, 10th Air Force commander, who is also stationed at NAS JRB Fort Worth and Ms. Dawn Androsky, Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command director of staff and member of the Senior Executive Service, met with 301 FW Reserve Citizen Airmen to learn how they play an important part in training and deploying combat ready Airmen.
The wing’s Logistics Readiness Squadron served as one of the stops where Maj. Gen. Borgen recognized Tech. Sgt. Catherine Anderson, a logistics planner for the unit, who assisted with a recent deployment and redeployment (returning personnel home) of more than 200 Airmen.
“I was excited, and most certainly proud of my team, to know our hard work and efforts didn’t go unrecognized,” Anderson said. “It was a humbling experience for me personally. I have never been one to work hard in the hopes of being recognized, it’s just who I am as a person…”
During the visit, several Airmen had the opportunity to have lunch with the numbered Air Force commander and his Command Chief Master Sgt. Jeremy Malcom. Col. Allen Duckworth, 301 FW commander, and wing Command Chief Master Sgt. Michael Senigo, also attended the event where they learned more about each attendee and answered some of their questions.
Senior Airman Jonathan Hertneky, 301 FW Command Post training manager, was one of those attendees who had the opportunity to interact with all four leaders.
“This was the first time that I felt like I had the opportunity to hear and see the top priorities of our wing and NAF senior leadership, as well as a down-to earth brief history about their careers and what some of the most important things are to them, such as Maj. Gen Borgen’s discussion on reluctant leadership,” said Hertneky. “Coming from a decade’s [worth of experience] within the corporate world of financial services and brokerage firms [into the military], this felt like the first real paradigm shift I have had leaving me feeling more in sync with our organization’s priorities ... this meeting effectively supercharged my desire and commitment to commission and serve the Air Force for the next 20 plus years until I age out. I greatly valued this opportunity and hope that it was equally a breakthrough moment for the other attendees.”
Additionally, Airmen from the 301 FW Security Forces Squadron, 457th Fighter Squadron, the wing’s Maintenance Group, among other units, also had the opportunity to speak with the visitors as they toured their respective shops that Saturday.
Master Sgt. Rudy Panacci, the acting 301 FW Aircrew Flight Equipment superintendent, was present for the visit to the fighter squadron, where he was recognized for his contributions to the wing’s mission.
“It was an absolute blessing to get coined by Ms. Androsky and receive recognition for hard work and commitment, but as we had the discussion in the room while receiving the coin, the fighter squadron commander and operations support squadron commander placed the emphasis on our Aircrew Flight Equipment team,” he said. “We have such a great group of individuals who display such tremendous commitment to the 301st Fighter Wing, and the Aircrew Flight Equipment operation. They make our work center such a great environment to be a part of and I wouldn’t have been standing in front of her without the support of the awesome individuals that I work with!”
By the end of the UTA, dozens of Airmen had the opportunity to interact with wing, NAF, and AFRC leadership. They were able to host these leaders at their shops and show their contributions to the fight against COVID-19, training and deploying combat ready Airmen, and the overall day-to-day support of defending the country.