Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas --
Awards, ribbons, medals and decorations are a timeless part of military culture. They are part of our history and heritage, and can promote healthy competition and boost morale.
For one Laughlin Airman, it was a unit level award that let him know he was doing his job and supporting the mission.
Airman 1st Class Jesse Hendrix, 47th Medical Operations Squadron aerospace and operations physiology technician, has won the 'favorite instructor award' four times.
"Winning this award has shown me that I have had great training and supervision, and that I'm able to convey important information to the pilots properly," said Hendrix.
It's Hendrix's job to teach Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training students about oxygen equipment, cabin pressurization, parachuting and other vital skills.
After Hendrix and other members of the unit are done instructing, the SUPT class votes on who their favorite instructor was.
"I think unit awards such as this one encourages people to try their best and go above and beyond what's required," said Hendrix.
In addition to the class-by-class awards, the Airmen also compete for instructor of the quarter and instructor of the year.
"Unit awards like these help show appreciation for the hard work our Airmen do every day," said Tech. Sgt. Kyle Leak, 47th MDOS aerospace and operational physiology flight chief. "And at the unit level, it touches right back to the mission."
As Airmen continue to do their jobs, compete for and earn awards, they are supporting the mission; and in turn, Laughlin continues to graduate the world's best pilots.