MOS Airman receives Air Force award

  • Published
  • By Airman Jack Sanders
  • 3rd Wing Public Affairs
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  An Airman assigned to the 3rd Maintenance Operations Squadron earned an Air Force- level award. 

Tech. Sgt. Douglas Pinard, the NCO in charge of the 3rd MOS Maintenance Training Flight scheduling element here, was named the Air Force's 2008 Education and Training Manager of the Year, Junior Enlisted Support Level. 

Pinard, who hails from New Jersey, has worked with the maintenance training flight here since May 2006. 

This was his first ever Air Force-level award. "I think it's awesome," he said. "I attribute a lot of it to the people I work with." 

Pinard was able to save the Air Force thousands of dollars, and ensured that key units were able to deploy. 

Pinard said his job requires him to work with not only with the other unit training managers, but also other bases in the Air Force, with individuals from different flights, squadrons and maintenance groups. "Working with them is really what helped me get this award," said Pinard, who is an F-15E crew chief by trade. 

Pinard said that the military training flight instructors really help him out a lot. "Senior Master Sgt. (Joseph) Martini, the superintendent, has helped me and pushed me a lot," he said. "If it weren't for my co-workers, I would not have this award," he said. 

The arrival of two new airframes aided to his obtaining the award. "The fact that we just recently (added) the C-17 and the F-22 here opened up a world of opportunities (for) people in this position, throughout the Air Force," said Pinard. 

There were a lot of unique opportunities with the new aircraft to generate, establish training requirements. Pinard was able to accomplish tasks like resolving a 3rd Wing instructor shortfall, saving $39,000. 

Pinard said his favorite part of the entire process was being in on the ground floor. "It was great, plain and simple, to be able to see it go from the thought and the, 'Hey, we know we're getting this,' to now, 'We have it and let's run with it,'" he said. 

Pinard's job allows him to work with a large group of people. He has the opportunity to help out Airmen of all ranks. "I routinely talk with chiefs and commanders for training issues," he said. 

The sergeant said he's honored to receive this title. "It's fantastic to get this, but the whole reason this happened is because of the team we have here at the maintenance training flight," he said.