Hanscom CGOCs earn top regional honor

  • Published
  • By Sarah Olaciregui
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  The Hanscom Company Grade Officers Council was selected as the Eastern Region Company Grade Officers Council of the Quarter for July through September 2010. The team was selected out of 30 eastern region councils and will go on to compete at the national level.

The council was chosen based on their efforts in professional development, base support, community service and esprit de corps.

"There has been a renewed emphasis for the CGOC from senior leadership, as well as CGOs across the base," said Capt. Paul McArtor, Hanscom CGOC president. "As a result, we were strong in all categories."

During the quarter, the council organized and participated in six professional development activities, including speaking engagements from various senior leaders across the base, a tour of a local manufacturing facility and a "bring a junior civilian to lunch" event.

In community service, the CGOC worked a variety of events such as organizing a base beautification project, manning a blood drive, attending an adopt-a-ward at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Bedford, sponsoring a dorm dinner for the junior enlisted force and teaming with local schools to establish a study buddy program.

The group also was recognized for their efforts in fundraising, recruiting and retention efforts, as well as the many social activities they hosted throughout the quarter.

"In past quarters we have only been able to cite activities in one or two of the categories," said Captain McArtor. "This quarter we listed between two and six events, efforts or activities for each. We definitely made huge strides and we have a good group of committed CGOs that made it possible.

The CGOC plans to keep up the hard work. The ROTC liaison, 2nd Lt. Sarah Curtis, is making sure cadets from area universities get involved.

"We are inviting cadets to do the sabre arch during the Shiely, Wright and O'Neill awards banquet on Nov. 10," she said. "We also hosted career days at several universities and got a lot of positive feedback. It's something I want to continue to do."

Lieutenant Curtis initially joined the CGOC to meet other officers and network, but now it means so much more.

"I feel pride to be a part of Hanscom's CGOC, especially when we take part in community service activities."

Hanscom's CGOC meets on the third Thursday of each month at 11:30 a.m. in the Patriot Lounge of the Minuteman Club. For further information, contact Captain McArtor at 781-266-9653.