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117th Maintenance Group Peers Recognize Outstanding Performance

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Wesley A. Jones
  • 117th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
BIRMINGHAM, Ala --  Tech. Sgt. Jay G. Heatherly of the 117th Maintenance Group was recognized as the Maintenance Person of the Quarter here on Aug. 11.

The 117 MXG has reconstructed their way of recognizing performance and accomplishments while carrying out their duties.

"This is called 'Maintenance Person of the Quarter' and it's a program that has been resurrected and reconstructed," said Colonel Scott Grant, the 117 MXG Commander. "We got the impression from our senior leaders that the previous program wasn't necessarily concentrating on the job."

There are two requirements with the revised award program. First each candidate must be nominated by their peers. The nominator is to list job-related reasons on why they are choosing a specific person for recognition.

"The second requirement is that it cannot be a formal submission of any kind," said Grant. "I want this on a shop towel or a cocktail napkin."

Grant says the idea really took off once everyone learned the prerequisites. The first nomination ended up being the first award winner. Heatherly's name was written on a white shop towel with several reasons why he should win the 'Maintenance Person of the Quarter' award.

"The submission was very basic, but I believe it got the point across," said Grant.

Heatherly was recognized at a Commanders Call during August drill. Grant says there was a tremendous response from everyone in the unit when he received the award.

"Once I realized he was so overwhelmed by the recognition, I knew we were on to something," said Grant.

Grant says it doesn't matter if the nomination is a traditional guardsman, technician or active duty.

"In fact, the first nomination came from an active duty member submitting a guardsman's name," said Grant.

Since then, a second airman has been awarded 'Maintenance Person of the Quarter.' Tech. Sgt. Nicholas B. Majors was recognized during Navajo Training earlier this month.