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Global Strike Airman earns national Honor Guard award

  • Published
  • By Crystal Jordan
  • Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  An Air Force Global Strike Command Airman is the 2009 Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force base honor guard member of the year.

Senior Airman Ciarra D. Schady, an honor guard flight leader here, will be recognized by Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James A. Roy at the Air Force Honors Banquet in Atlanta, Ga., Aug. 18.

"I love my career," said Airman Schady. "Growing up, I felt as if I had nothing. Now, in the Air Force, I have it all."

The Air Force was her path out of a rough childhood, she said.

"I feel extremely honored to be able to bring this award home to my flight, my unit and my Command," Airman Schady said.

"Every step [we] take, every movement executed, must exude pride and dedication," she said. "By portraying personal excellence and possessing pride in our mission, we, as a team, ensure that we perform to the best of our abilities, for our fallen and for their families."

Airman Schady learned the importance of these values early on in her life. Raised by her father in a single-parent home and growing up in a rough neighborhood, Airman Schady was exposed to life's hardships and distractions at an early age, she said. She says now that she fought that lifestyle because she knew she wanted more from life.

"I wanted to be a part of something that made me proud. I wanted to be a part of something that made a significant difference in this world."

What she found was her high school Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps where she was exposed to military discipline and values.

"JROTC gave me an opportunity to dive into programs that allowed me to be a positive force on this earth," said Airman Schady.

Her father and other family members supported her throughout school, she said. "The love and closeness provided by my family helped me to escape the environment I had been surrounded by."

Mr. Dale Schady, her father, said his daughter aims to be the best in every activity, sport or task she takes on.

"My time was best invested in my daughter," Mr. Schady said. "I will never be able to express how truly proud I am."

Airman Schady said JROTC motivated her to join the Air Force soon after high school.

"We are very proud of Senior Airman Schady," said Chief Master Sergeant Jack Johnson, Jr., Global Strike command chief master sergeant. "Her recognition demonstrates the Command is on track to realize our vision of bringing an elite and highly-disciplined team to the fight every day."

Airman Schady said of all Honor Guard details, funeral details are especially meaningful for her, because it affords her the privilege of being a part of a family's last memory of their loved one. "Ensuring this memory is filled with honor and pride is a personal responsibility: I do not take it lightly."

Airman Schady earned the recognition for her outstanding displays of professionalism in working military funeral honors and other ceremonies as a part of the Barksdale Honor Guard program. She commanded more than 130 funeral details, 30 color guards and 12 cordons across an area of responsibility encompassing more than 53,000 square miles around Barksdale.