Force Support officer honored with Air Force award

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Matthew Chism
  • JBER Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  Air Force Capt. Michael Eide from the 673d Force Support Squadron received the Air Force's Force Support Company Grade Officer of the Year Award for his accomplishments in 2010.

Eide currently works as the Operations Officer for the Force Support Squadron.

"(I) felt shocked, amazed, and very humbled," he said when Air Force Maj. Brian Rendell, FSS commander, passed him the news of his award.

Eide said he felt a few things which helped him win the award were his recent deployment to Afghanistan, the team of Airmen and Soldiers on the force support team, and his community service activities.

"I've stayed busy at work, but additionally, I've spent a lot of time outside of work doing a lot for the community," he said.

"I deployed to Afghanistan on a joint tasking with the Army. I was the Logistics Program Manager for the Afghan National Police."

Furthermore, the captain said he was "in charge of the accountability and issuance of all weapons, ammunition, vehicles, and critical organizational clothing and equipment for the police.

"I went on over 230 convoys outside the wire visiting police districts, mentoring folks and doing weapons accountability making sure they had everything they needed to accomplish their mission," Eide said.

Eide mentioned the process of transitioning from Elmendorf Air Force Base to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson has taken the hard work of the more than 1,300 personnel on the force support team.

"We have a lot of facilities and a wide range of responsibilities in FSS: Deploying JBER personnel all over the world, Morale, Welfare, and Recreation, Dining Facilities, Childcare and Youth Programs, Education Services, Army and Air Force
Military Personnel, the fitness centers, etc.," he said. "That's all under FSS."

"Throughout the unit, I'm blessed to work with great professionals who do great things every day," Eide mused. "My award is definitely a reflection of the hard work they have done."

Air Force Master Sgt. James Fitzgerald, FSS operations superintendent, said he felt Eide's ability to be the "point man," and lead by example, was the reason the captain won the award.

"After being in over 22 years, he's one of the best supervisor's I've ever had, because he cares about his people," Fitzgerald explained.

When asked how he feels others can achieve success like his own, Eide said, "Make sure you're the expert at your job first, that's key. Our bosses and our Airmen and Soldiers expect us to know our job.

"Pursue school, get out in the community and help others. Grow both personally and professionally" he continued. "That is the main thing I try to stress."