ABG orgs reap best in command recognition Published Feb. 24, 2016 HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- It continues to be a banner year for members of the 66th Air Base Group following the recent announcement of awards by Air Force Materiel Command functionals. The victors are from the 66th Force Support Squadron, 66th Security Forces Squadron, Hanscom Chapel and Public Affairs in multiple career field-related categories. "The mission of the 66th Air Base Group is to secure, support and sustain those who live and work at Hanscom Air Force Base," said Col. David R. Dunklee, 66 ABG commander. "I think that these awards, and the others that have already been announced this year, are evidence that we're doing a very good job at accomplishing that important mission." 66th Force Support Squadron The 66th Force Support Squadron captured the 2015 Maj. Gen. Eugene L. Eubank Award for Air Force Materiel Command. The squadron will now compete at the Air Force level. The award is presented to the best small force support squadron that represents the priorities General Eubank placed on the morale and welfare of America's fighting forces to further the overall mission. As an example of this, FSS officials hosted the first-ever Base Fun Fair. "The fun fair was a total success for the Hanscom community," said Vic Hayes, 66 FSS director. "The event was attended by approximately 1,500 members of the community and included free carnival rides, games for children and a fireworks display at the end of the night." Among the other notable accomplishments highlighted in the award citation is the Hanscom Aero Club's assertive and proactive flight safety program that resulted in zero incidents in 2015. As a result, the club received the Secretary of the Air Force Aero Club Safety Certificate Award. The squadron also hosted 15 base Hearts Apart events, distributed more than $100,000 in aid through the Air Force Assistance Fund and managed the base's annual Turkey Drive that collected more than $10,000 in Thanksgiving meals and distributed them to junior military and civilian members. 66th Security Forces Squadron Security forces has followed up on its selection as the Air Force's best small SF squadron in 2014 by winning AFMC's best small SFS unit award for 2015. As the command winner, the squadron will now advance in hopes of repeating as the best in Air Force. "Throughout the organization there are so many Airmen that accomplished great things last year, individually and collectively," said Maj. Joseph Bincarousky, 66 SFS commander. "That individual and team success resonates throughout the squadron and drives us to be an even better organization." The award citation includes accomplishments by many members during deployments to overseas locations. Included is the somber reminder of the sacrifice made by fallen defenders Senior Airmen Kcey Ruiz and Nathan Sartain, who were killed when the C-130J Super Hercules aircraft they were on crashed shortly after takeoff. "We continue to honor their legacy in many ways," said Bincarousky. "One example is by remembering their enthusiasm and dedication to the mission that inspired peers and unit leadership alike and contributed immeasurably to the success of this organization." The squadron remained busy locally by preparing for last spring's Unit Effectiveness Inspection. During the UEI, 11 defenders were lauded as outstanding performers. Among the examples cited in the write-up is participation by many junior and senior enlisted members in force development programs such as First Term Airman Course and Airman Leadership School, as well as active involvement in private organizations such as the Patriot Enlisted Association, Top Three and others. Base Chapel For the second year in a row, Hanscom's chapel captured the 2015 Robert P. Taylor Award as the command's best small chapel. The team will now advance to compete at the Air Force level. "The success of the chapel is the result of a commitment to the spiritual needs of the Hanscom community," said Chaplain (Maj.) Robert Borger, base chaplain. Highlighted in the award citation is the proactive approach by chaplains to create dialogue with Hanscom dorm residents. "Through programs like 'Real Talk,' a program initiated by Chaplain [Jerry] St. Pierre, dorm residents set the agenda and discussed topics they felt were important to them," Borger said. The chapel also organized events for single Airmen throughout the holiday season. "Through the efforts of more than 20 volunteers, the chapel initiated holiday meals for more than 30 single Airmen living in the dorms," Chaplain Borger said. In addition to garnering the best small chapel distinction, St. Pierre and Staff Sgt. Matthew Stranz form the command's Outstanding Religious Support Team. This award recognizes a chaplain and chaplain assistant team that offer spiritual warrior care at the tactical level. "There is no better example of this than their efforts following the deaths of two Hanscom security forces Airmen," said Borger. The team also launched a youth ministry that connected 20 teens with five base programs. Public Affairs The 66 ABG Public Affairs office received seven awards in the Public Affairs Communications Excellence and Media Awards competitions. Linda LaBonte Britt, Jerry Saslav and Mark Wyatt each received individual recognition. As part of the Comm Excellence Awards, Saslav and Wyatt earned Outstanding Civilian recognition in their respective categories. Saslav was also named the 2015 AFMC Civilian Photographer of the Year. In the Media Awards, the Best News Article, "Ruiz, Sartain remembered by defenders, senior leaders," was written by Wyatt. The Best Pictorial Photography is a photo captured by LaBonte Britt of a Military Working Dog. "I'm very proud of our individual award winners and our entire team," said Chuck Paone, 66 ABG Public Affairs director. "The individual awards are fantastic and really just help us validate what we already know: that we have many highly skilled, dedicated personnel." The PA team also won Best Website and Best Digital Presence for their efforts with the public website and Facebook and Twitter. "The awards for Best Website and Best Digital Presence also mean an awful lot, because online communication is so critical in today's environment," Paone said. "These awards recognize not only our great results, but the hard work we put into the strategic planning and tactical execution that delivered those results.