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117th Maintenance Group Recognizes Outstanding Performance

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Wesley Jones
  • 117th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --  Col. Scott Grant named Tech. Sgt. Nicholas Majors as the Maintenance Person of the Year for his outstanding performance and professionalism here during the February Unit Training Assembly.

Four airmen from the group were nominated by their peers for this award. It's not just any nomination formality. Leaders drive home a unique sense of recognition in the 117th Maintenance Group.

"Our program for Maintenance Person of the Year comes from the peer level," said Grant. "It has to be done informally. The most popular way of nominating someone is by writing their name on a shop towel with a ball point pen."

Airmen in the Maintenance Group chose Majors based on his commitment to the overall success of the group.

"Anytime there's an engine problem, he's the one beating down the door to be the one to go out there and work on it," said Grant. "He's a true professional."

Grant also recognized Tech. Sgt. Aaron Sharit, another airman in the Maintenance Group. Sharit was credited for making a critical decision to delay a KC-135R mission.

Sharit delayed the mission after an active duty boom operator was exposed to halon gas used to extinguish an auxiliary power unit fire during the pre-flight inspection.

"As it turns out, the crew member had to be replaced, and had to seek medical treatment," said Grant. "If it hadn't been for Sharit, that crew member probably would have flown."

Sharit was awarded the Maintenance Group Person of the Quarter for his overall efforts.