Air Force honors 35th MDG with annual awards

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Stefanie Torres
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  The Air Force has recognized two individuals and a flight from Misawa Air Base for their outstanding service and performance during the last fiscal year.

Lt. Col. Guylene Kriegh-Fleming, Staff Sgt. Teronda Hunter and the Mental Health Flight here were big winners as the Air Force announced their annual awards.

The Major General Barbara C. Brannon Nursing Leadership award went to Colonel Kriegh-Fleming to recognize her contributions for enhancing nursing care delivery and professional development of nursing personnel.

"Colonel Kriegh-Fleming is a phenomenal mentor and leader," said Col. Mary Armour, 35th Medical Group commander. "Due to her efforts we had a 100 percent match rate for our people applying for AFIT, Nurse Enlisted Commissioning Program and Aeromedical Evacuation Technician."

Sergeant Hunter won the Outstanding Dental NCO of the Year for the Behavioral Health Team.

"All of us are measured by our performance metrics and Sergeant Hunter is the single person responsible for the 35th FW being able to sustain a 99 percent dental readiness rate," said Colonel Armour. "As for customer service, there is none better. Her professionalism and can-do attitude is contagious."

The Mental Health Flight has been recognized with the Outstanding Behavioral Health Team Award for their premier health care to the Misawa community. The award recognizes the installation and community behavioral health prevention accomplishments.

"Even though we don't have the resources of a stateside base here at Misawa, our people are constantly searching for the best methods to meet the needs of the warfighters and their families" said Maj. Pairin Skaggs, deputy commander of the 35th Medical Operations Squadron.

According to Colonel Armour, the mental health flight personnel are the unsung heroes of the community. "If you look statistically at the drastic reductions in person-to-person violence and alcohol incidence alone, you can't help but see the Behavioral Health Team has done an awesome job," she said. "The community outreach and commander involvement has paid off extremely well."

"We like to go above and beyond at the medical group," said Major Skaggs.