The American Red Cross South Puget Sound Chapter hosted their annual 2016 Heroes luncheon Sept. 28 in Tacoma.

This year, the local chapter honored individuals from the community at the Hotel Murano Bicentennial Pavilion in Tacoma, with more than 400 members of the community gathered together to honor and recognize them for their heroic acts.

"I want to thank each and every one of you for coming to this event today," said Jenna Hanchard, host and reporter from KING 5 TV station. "Today we will be recognizing six individuals who did the unthinkable and sacrificed themselves to save lives."

Every year, the American Red Cross hosts an event, a community celebration honoring local individuals and organizations who've made a commitment to creating safer, stronger communities and providing help when disaster strikes.

In the audience was special guest Bonnie Bush, Executive Director of American Red Cross, who gave the welcome speech before the award recipients were called to the stage to receive their award.

"Our Heroes Luncheon is a way for us to honor inspirational community members and to give our profound thanks to those who perhaps wouldn't otherwise be recognized," said Bush. "It's all about celebrating people who have made our community a better place to live."

Bush wrapped up her speech thanking all the award recipients for their sacrifice to the community and gave a special thanks to all who serve in the Armed Forces.

Staff Sgt. Matthew Siegele, 627th Force Support Squadron sports and fitness NCO in charge, was the first of six individuals to be recognized at the Heroes luncheon.

"Our first award this afternoon goes to someone who spends his life ensuring the community and our nation is safe," said Hanchard. "Sgt. Siegele didn't need to be in uniform to put his life at risk for someone else."

Siegele received the 2016 Water Rescue Hero Award for his heroic act he performed, Jan. 1, when a little girl fell through the ice on Carter Lake on Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

"I am glad I was there," said Siegele. "All the training I've received through my years in the Air Force prompted me to react accordingly, ultimately saving her life."

After the audience watched a video on his story, Siegele proceeded to the stage, received his award and said a few words.

"I am honored to be here today to accept this award," said Siegele. "I am very humbled to share this stage with the people who have protected this community, not for the recognition, but for making our community better. I want to thank everyone who put me in for this special award, and I thank each and every one of you who came out today to support all the award recipients and the American Red Cross."

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD - The 62nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Innovation Team was selected for the United States Transportation Command Commander's Innovation Showcase Award for the third quarter Sept. 16.

The Innovation Showcase award was established in 2012 to recognize USTRANSCOM teams that demonstrate innovation and collaboration with a focus on the commander's priorities while solving problems for the warfighter.

Every quarter, Gen. Darren McDew, USTRANSCOM commander, and the leadership team review award nominations from across the joint enterprise and select one overall winner and up to four honorable mentions. The team added the honorable mentions to the selection this year in order to recognize more USTRANSCOM personnel for their innovative work.

This was the second time the 62nd AMXS has put in a package for this award, but the first time they have won first place.

"The 62nd AMXS Innovation team won an honorable mention in the second quarter USTRANSCOM Innovation Challenge," said 2nd Lt. Sean Stephens, 62nd AMXS silver Aircraft Maintenance Unit assistant officer in charge. " This was a great achievement and excellent recognition for the squadron's airmen. We knew that the squadron had been doing so many great things with innovation, that we were definitely able to write another package for this third quarter award."

The 62nd AMXS Innovation Team earned top honors for its improved technician capability on the flight line with an improved high-capacity battery for their digital technical orders system.

Technicians can now work a whole shift without the need for recharging their DTOS, saving technicians approximately 30 minutes a day, which equates to an annual savings of 182.5 man hours.

A snap scanner was procured for the AMXS production office to expedite the generation of necessary documents. The snap scanner has reduced meeting preparation time by one hour per day and also reduced paper waste.

Also through the AIT, plastic chocks with nylon rope will replace the commonly used wooden chocks and cotton cloth rope that degrade quickly from daily use and the Washington rain. The wooden chocks were replaced every four months, but replacing them with the plastic chocks will reduce the replacement rate with a potential 10- year cost savings of $154,600.

Finally, the AIT worked with the 62nd AMXS metals tech back shop to design a new and improved storage bin specially designed for the C-17 Globemaster III floor grates used to access the underfloor of the aircraft.

The old storage location caused vital time to be taken away from the inventory process and took up significant storage space. Creating the new shelving design has cut down time for the daily inspections which also equates to an estimated 61 hours saved annually.

The team's innovation has saved more than 2,000 man-hours and $4,700. The team has forecasted estimates of an annual time savings of 5,400 man-hours and $24,000 cost avoidance.

Stephens said that this will not be the last time that the 62nd AMXS Innovation team submits a package for this award.

"I was thrilled when I received the email stating the 62nd AMXS won the USTRANSCOM Innovation Challenge award," said Maj. Mark Szatkowski, 62nd AMXS commander. "The AMXS Innovation program started from a simple white board and morphed into a website with nearly 250 ideas to date to improve the unit and JBLM.  It has given our personnel a voice on any shift, on any day to drive change as we continue to operate with less resources.  I am humbled to be part of such a great team of folks and grateful they won this award."

Next, the team will travel to Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, for a ceremony to receive this award from McDew.

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD - As part of a large-scale Field Training Exercise put together by the 446th Security Forces Squadron, more than 50 members from Joint Base Lewis-McChord conducted a large-scale Field Training Exercise Sept. 8-11.

Held over the September Unit Training Assembly, the exercise included U.S. Army aviation assets as well as medical personnel.

Planners designed the exercise to challenge Security Forces operators to perform expeditionary skills including urban operations, base defense operations, entry control point operations, and key leader engagements.

In a video interview, Capt. Ryan Bradley, 446th SFS commander, explained, "we did the exercise to highlight what we do in an expeditionary environment so we can recognize our strengths and learn what we need to improve upon in the future."

The exercise also demonstrated how reservists maximize their training time to accomplish critical deployment training tasks.

"During the UTAs, we're always crunched on time," said Tech. Sgt. Peter Ahn, 446th SFS NCO. "For us to come out here and do hands-on training, it just shows what we're capable of doing and how we maximize our time."

From rifleman to being squad member, we all have our different roles we need to practice, and this exercise gave us the opportunity to do that, said Bradley.

The training included scenarios that the citizen airmen might encounter while deployed.

Learning how to identify Improvised Explosive Devices and patrolling in convoys in and around makeshift training villages were important elements of the training.

The citizen airmen even participated in an impromptu ambush exercise utilizing laser technology to test their ability to work as a team and overcome opposition forces.

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD - The 62nd Airlift Wing hosted more than 20 air crew members from Belgium, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Pakistan, Canada, Taiwan, Brazil and Australia Sept. 21, as part of Air Mobility Command's Mobility Guardian in progress review at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Mobility Guardian is AMC's next generation exercise. It is a re-build of Rodeo on a larger scale and will be occurring August 2017.  

Lt. Col. Dan DeYoung, JBLM director for Mobility Guardian, said the group here this week is conducting a sort of walk-through for the logistics.

"It's a planning conference basically," DeYoung said. "This one is focused on how to integrate our international participants into next year's exercise."

Next year these international partners will be flying their own aircraft and crews out here to participate.

In the past, Rodeo included international partners as competitors, but this year they will serve more as joint forces.

"This is the premier exercise for Mobility Air Forces (or the MAF as it is commonly referred to)," said DeYoung. "We are exercising every aspect of what we provide as the Mobility Air Forces - air drop, air refueling, aeromedical evacuation, air land, strategic or tactical, joint forcible entry and contingency response."

JBLM will serve as the primary hub for operations for Mobility Guardian, which means planning for the exercise is being conducted largely out of the base.

"It is very complex to plan an exercise of this scale," DeYoung said. "We've spent a good part of this year planning and over the course of the next year we will be planning the two-week exercise."

There is a reason why so much time is being invested in Mobility Guardian and it's because of its magnitude and impact.

"This is going to be a train-like-you-fight exercise," added DeYoung. "This will test us to be more prepared, and the scenario that's being created is one that is plausible. We are exercising our capabilities in Mobility Guardian, where in the past we have served more as support, others will be supporting us."

Royal New Zealand Air Force Flight Lt. Juliet Foster said she was overwhelmed with the size of the base, but that she typically is, because the RNZAF only has approximately 3,000 members total.

"I think it's going to be a phenomenal exercise," said Foster. "It's much bigger scale than what we're used to, but we will have the ability to cater to anything we want to train for.

She also explained how significant it is for us as coalition forces to train together.

"It's important for us to work together, because it's practical," Foster said. "As an Air Force we're so small, so we're usually operating overseas with other nations. And having good relationships with America, Canada, the U.K., Australia and all the other nations here is really important, because knowing who to talk to during operations is important and this is the forum for it."

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD - When Senior Airman Victoria Montgomery joined the 446th Logistics Readiness Flight at McChord Field, she didn't anticipate supporting a mission that led to the initial production lot of the Air Force's newest refueling tanker - the KC-46A Pegasus.

Montgomery integrated with the 62nd Logistics Readiness Squadron here and helped to build and maintain readiness spares packages for refueling demonstrations, which were necessary before the KC-46A Pegasus program received approval to enter into production Aug. 12.

Readiness spares packages, or RSPs, include supplies and parts that are packaged, maintained and ready for rapid global deployment to support aircraft maintenance. Montgomery was part of the team that provided RSP support for the F-16 Fighting Falcons, one of three aircraft that were refueled off the boom by the KC-46A Pegasus. She's been working alongside active-duty counterparts since last November.

Montgomery contributed to two low-rate initial production lots, totaling 19 aircraft and associated spare parts. According to a recent article published by the Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs, contracts will soon be awarded to Boeing for a "pre-negotiated $2.8 billion combined value.

"The first aircraft deliveries will be to McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, and Altus AFB, Oklahoma. A total of eighteen tankers are scheduled to be delivered by early 2018."

As a traditional reservist, Montgomery participated in monthly unit training assemblies, or UTAs, and other annual training requirements with the 446th LRF. Outside of her military commitment, she was a full-time college student seeking a career as a nurse anesthetist. However, when the opportunity arose for Montgomery to gain more experience as an inventory management journeyman, she quickly volunteered to contribute more time to the Air Force.

"My main goal is to become more competent all the way around," she said. "I have been moving from one section to another, but I want to have a higher level of knowledge and be proficient at my job."

Assisting with the KC-46A Pegasus mission wasn't the only total force integration opportunity for Montgomery. She also partnered with the 62nd LRS after graduating from initial skills training in September 2014 as part of the Air Force Reserve Seasoning Training Program.

"I enjoy working with the active-duty," Montgomery said. "I feel like there's a lot that I could learn; I already have learned a lot from them. They treat me just like one of them."

Reservists who participate in the STP volunteer to remain on active-duty to receive on-the-job training. Staff Sgt. Jimmie High, with the 62nd LRS, is the NCO in charge of readiness spares package and played a role in Montgomery's upgrade training.

"If we deploy with reservists and they haven't interacted with active-duty, it's like two worlds meeting," High said. "We're able to bridge that gap, and I think a lot of people don't get that. So it definitely helps with transition."

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD - Team McChord airmen teamed up with the Air Force Sergeants Association to honor and remember prisoners of war and those missing in action during the POW/MIA Remembrance week Sept. 12 through 16 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

The annual event kicked off Sept. 12 with a wreath laying ceremony and concluded on National POW/MIA Recognition Day Sept. 16. With planning taking place more than seven months in advance, each of the week's events were highly attended.

"These are huge events; we had more than 100 volunteers put this together," said Master Sgt. Brandy Hite, 62nd Aerial Port Squadron first sergeant and this year's POW/MIA event coordinator. "Airmen are more than happy to help support these events and getting volunteers is never a problem."  

The wreath laying ceremony was held at Memorial Grove Garden on McChord Field and offered airmen the opportunity to hear former POWs speak about their war experiences and to remember those who have passed.

"This is the one time of the year we take time to remember those who never came home," said Hite. "This resonates with every servicemember."     

Tuesday's event kicked off with the rumbling of airmen's motorcycles as they rode across McChord Field. More than 20 servicemembers met at Memorial Grove before departing the base together on a group ride to honor POW/MIAs.

"We had phenomenal participation in every event," said Hite. "This is important to everybody."

Following the memorial motorcycle ride, airmen pitched their tents and laid out sleeping bags at the McChord Field track Wednesday morning to prepare for the POW/MIA 24-hour Run. The run kicked off at 8 a.m. and concluded Thursday morning at 8 a.m. More than 250 Team McChord airmen participated, running a cumulative total of 5,397 miles.

"None of us can begin to understand what our POWs have experienced," said Col. Stephen Snelson, 62nd Airlift Wing vice commander. "Hopefully events like this help us to honor and reflect upon their great sacrifice."    

The week's event concluded with the POW/MIA luncheon, allowing airmen to dine with former POWs and toast to their sacrifice.

"They (former POWs) love coming out here to be a part of this," said Hite. "I think they really love the opportunity to tell their story."

The luncheon honored 12 former POWs and all POW/MIA with a POW/MIA table presentation.

"This week gave everyone an opportunity to pause, reflect and remember," said Hite. "You look at everyone's face at the events and you can see that this important to every airman."

Having knowledge of the course can lead to a successful round of golf. It was true for the 5th Air Support Operations Squadron as the unit was able to hold off the 62nd Aerial Port Squadron by six total strokes during the Joint Base Lewis-McChord Commander’s Cup Golf Championship Monday at Whispering Firs Golf Course on McChord Field.

Five teams of four golfers each were split into pairs to play a best-ball format through all 18 holes. Shane Hobrecht and Matthew Horgan of 5th ASOS had the best overall team score with a round of 78 — only six over the course’s par. Both men admitted they could have played a better round and were saved by recovery shots.

“We were missing the fairways for most of the round until the last three holes,” Hobrecht said. “It was mostly recovery shots and a couple of good putts.”

Even the B duo for 5th ASOS — Ray Anderson and Doug Kesler — admitted they had troubles on the course. Although they finished with a round of 82 that was tied for the second best score by any duo, they said they felt they could have easily scored closer to Hobrectht’s and Horgan’s round.

“We would have bad holes together, and we would have good holes together,” Anderson said. “He didn’t make any putts, and I couldn’t hit any fairways.”

Being an Air Force unit means having some familiarity with Whispering Firs. Although the 5th ASOS’s office is located on Lewis Main, the unit often plays rounds of golf on Whispering Firs.

Playing the entire golf season at Whispering Firs might have also helped. The 5th ASOS team was able to focus its approach shots toward the stronger sides of the greens — avoiding hazards like water and sand.

“We knew where to play the greens, even when we were recovering,” Hobrecht said.

The 62nd APS also had some good games with Roy Pilipovich and Keith White teaming up for a round of 82, followed up with a round of 84 by the team of David McHugo and Patrick Wagnon — perhaps not bad

for a team that could have been out of the original playoff picture.

Historically, the JBLM Commander’s Cup Golf Championship was meant to be contested among four teams. While 5th ASOS finished the regular season first with 12.5 match points and 62nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron finished with 11.5 points, three teams finished tied with 11 points.

The decision was made to have the teams representing 62nd Maintenance Squadron, 62nd Medical Brigade and 62nd APS advance to the championship round.

The 5th ASOS team was able to get a championship win, which was big for a unit that hasn’t been able to get the same participation for intramural sports as it did last year — contending for the Commander’s Cup that eventually went to the 47th Combat Support Hospital.

It does help build confidence moving toward next year, when the unit hopes to get more teams and more championships, Horgan said.

“We missed a couple of sports, so we’re in a rebuild year,” he said.

Most people can't fathom what it would be like to be homeless. Of the hundreds of thousands of people who are homeless in the U.S., one Rainier Wing reservist knows all too well.

"It was one of the toughest periods in my life," said Senior Airman Troy Serad, an engineering assistant assigned to the 446th Civil Engineer Squadron. "It was the beginning of my 10th grade year of high school and I dropped out. We went from place to place, sometimes staying with different family members. It was a bad time."

While this was a pivotal point in Serad's life, this story starts many years earlier.

Born in Texas, Serad's parents divorced when he was a toddler. His father moved to New York and his mother packed up his three brothers and him and moved to her home state of Washington.

"My mother didn't have many job skills but did what she had to in order to support us," said Serad. "She would work odd jobs and then got some training in the medical field. While working in a hospital she was assaulted by a patient and became disabled."

Because of her disability, many years of struggles for Serad and his family began.

"When I was eight years old I remember answering the door and a sheriff's deputy had delivered an eviction notice," said Serad. "For whatever reason, I would always receive the notices. I would take the eviction notice to my mom and she would always say that it would be all right. We moved about every six months but somehow my mom always found us another place to live."

"Things weren't right growing up," he said. "We were always dependent on the state, receiving food stamps and low-income housing."

As a result of the hardships Serad faced at home, his schooling suffered as well.

"When I was younger, it didn't matter if I went to school or not," said Serad. "I was frequently truant from school and my mom would always sign my notes. I was able to get good grades so I could make up whatever I missed."

As the difficulties of life continued for Serad, things went from bad to worse.

"When we lost our house, we moved around with different family members or friends," said Serad. "We were never out on the street sleeping, but we had to couch surf or stay at other people's houses. I was not in school. I was around bad role models."

By that time, his older brother Zackery had joined the military.

"When I dropped out of school my plan at the time was to get my GED and work for the railroad," said Serad. "It was definitely ambitious."

But Serad's older brother Zack, a Marine Corps combat veteran, knew he was always destined for more.

"I knew he was intelligent when he was very young but I always remember worrying about him," said Zachery Serad. "I always tried to make sure I was there for him, from the time I was in high school to fighting in Iraq.

When Zach found out that Serad had quit school he knew he had to do something.

"I told him straight up how I felt," said Zack. "I knew that his potential would only show through with an education or a lot of luck. Serad boys don't have much luck so education it was."

With some tough love from Zack, Serad stepped back onto the path of success.

"My older brother Zack always told me that I would be this very successful person and believed in me," said Serad. "I went back to school and the teachers bent over backwards to help me earn enough credits to graduate. I not only graduated with a high school diploma, but also an associate's degree."

Thanks to his brother and teachers that believed in him, Serad pushed himself to excel.

"Without my English teachers I wouldn't have made it," said Serad. "They expected better from me. It always felt great when my work was complimented and rewarded."

After high school, Serad continued with his education and earned his bachelor's degree in urban planning from the University of Washington.

Soon after starting a new job at Amtrak, Serad was ready for another great challenge - the Air Force Reserve.

"Airman Serad serves as a role model for the self-improvement opportunities available as well as his outstanding focus on high duty performance," said Lt. Col. Andrew Lafrazia, 446th CES commander. "His example will hopefully be a catalyst for others to see what education can accomplish."

Being a citizen airman has positively impacted Serad.

"The Air Force Reserve has been more than I expected," said Serad. "If you are not a part of the military you don't know what it's like. It rewards good work and promotes from within. There is a lot of value in what we do."

"I joined for the education and medical benefits, and to start something new," he said. "I also joined because of the pride I have in my brother being a Marine Corps veteran. Lastly, I wanted to prove to myself I could do it."

Sharing his experience as a reservist to troubled teens is a passion for him.

"As an airman I have been able to influence and enlighten what the military does in a positive way," said Serad. "Lately, I have been working with a couple of high school students who are considered to be youth at-risk. I have been encouraging them about the benefits of the military and what it has to offer."

Like his English teachers, his CE leadership expects Serad to Excel.

"I wouldn't be surprised to see him take on a significant challenge educationally, such as an advanced degree, or professionally such as a city planner, congressman or entrepreneur, said Lafrazia. "Whatever direction he takes, I'm glad to have him in my unit."

Currently Serad is studying for the Law School Admission Test in pursuit of earning a law degree.

"Having this background has made me what I am today," said Serad. "My dream job would be a senator or congressman; to be a representative of the people. I have this desire to help others."

Twice a year the Washington Air National Guard's Western Air Defense Sector holds a sports day where American and Canadian servicemembers assigned to the unit can engage in a friendly battle for superiority on the hockey ice and on the softball fields.

In February, the Canadian Detachment narrowly won the annual Hockey Classic by a score of 4-3 at the Sprinker Recreation Center in Spanaway.

The softball game was an opportunity just before the Labor Day holiday for the American's to exact revenge on the softball diamond.

"It is only fair for the Americans to choose a sport that they have a chance to win since they were not born with hockey skates on," said Canadian Warrant Officer Richard Martin.

"The Canadian's take playing hockey very seriously since it is their national pastime," said Chief Master Sgt. Daniel Rebstock, 225th Support Squadron superintendent. "They don't give us much slack on the ice."

"Though we do adjust the softball rules slightly for them in order to give them a fighting chance," Rebstock commented. "The Canadian Detachment only has 15 members assigned and they usually have to field players from their family ranks."

The amended rules included each team being limited to five runs per inning for a total of seven innings.

The softball game started with the traditional playing of the Canadian and U.S. National Anthems. The 225th Air Defense Group commander, Col. William Krueger, and the Canadian Detachment commander, Lt. Col. Matthew Wappler, simultaneously threw out the first pitch in order to symbolize the long-term partnership of Canada and the U.S. working side by side at the Western Air Defense Sector for more than 60 years.

The Canadians were holding their own until about the fifth inning when the American's really started to pull away, according to Chief Master Sgt. Allan Lawson, 225th Air Defense Squadron superintendent. The American's won decisively with a 22-7 score.

"Ultimately the main reason for the annual hockey and softball championships is to foster the continued partnership and espirt de corps between our countries while guarding America's skies 24/7," said Col. Gregor Leist, Western Air Defense Sector commander.

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD - The 446th "Rainier" Wing's Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron undergoes constant training to be able to respond during any type of situation.

On a recent C-17 Globemaster III flight, Lt. Col. Lori O'Daniel, 446th AES deputy officer-in-charge of commander support services and instructor flight nurse, was able to train on currency requirements, including a simulated aircraft emergency and inflight medical emergencies.

Col. Sean Pierce, 446th Operations Group commander, served as a simulated patient during one of the training sessions during the flight.

"Colonel Pierce was a simulated patient who developed a cardiac event with respiratory and cardiac arrest," explained O'Daniel. "This allowed us to go through our Advanced Cardiac Life Support protocols, which are exactly the treatment protocols he would have received in an Emergency Department."

Pierce served 15 years in the Army, assigned in various leadership assignments as an AH-1, UH-1, CH-47 and UH-60 pilot, instructor, evaluator, test pilot and test pilot evaluator. A command pilot with more than 5,000 flying hours, he transitioned to flying strategic airlift in the C-17.

"For me, medical evacuation missions are the most real and tangible operations you can be a part of," said Pierce. "The military has been supporting sustained wartime operations for nearly two decades, and being part of medevac missions has shown me firsthand how tremendously skilled and dedicated members of the Aeromedical Evacuation community are to their mission."

Other training conducted during the flight for the AES members included practicing on patient loads and offloads, setting-up oxygen, electrical, stanchions and emergency equipment.

O'Daniel is a traditional reservist who works as a post-surgical care nurse in day surgery and as a hyperbaric dive nurse in hyperbaric medicine for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

"I was prior enlisted in the AES as a medical technician with the 446th," she said. "I loved caring for patients inflight and providing medical transport."

Using her GI bill to get her nursing degree, she progressed to become a flight nurse and continued her military medical career.

The 446th AW provides 2,100 combat-ready citizen airmen to support worldwide airlift operations. From humanitarian aid to aeromedical evacuation, members of the Rainier Wing operate the C-17 Globemaster III in some of the most austere places in the world, including the Antarctic.