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Airman earns African American award

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Mike Tryon
  • 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs
F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. --  To win an award such as the African American Recognition award, it takes time and dedication to service.

Not only has Staff Sgt. Paul W. White, 90th Security Forces Squadron, shown that he's dedicated to the mission, he has won the award for 2010 at the squadron, wing, and MAJCOM levels. He's now up for the award at the Air Force level.

"Winning this award came to a shock to me," Sergeant White said. "It's the first time in my military career that I've been put in for an award, and I didn't think we had enough time to get everything together."

As a desk sergeant, he dispatched patrols to more than 15 munitions shipments and 35 alarm activations involving protection level resources. He, as a patrolman, also responded to more than 30 incidences around the base. Those are just some of the accolades that helped Sergeant White earn the award.

Deployments are a big key to the award as well.

Since he's been in the service, Sergeant White has deployed to six different locations. All of which had a different mission.

Sergeant White said he didn't decide to apply for the award until about six hours before the deadline, but still managed to put all the pieces together in time, and it paid off.

To submit a package, he needed an official photo, a single-spaced narrative describing his accomplishments warranting the recognition, a single-spaced biography and a 12-line citation highlighting the accomplishments.

"It was hard getting this done in six hours," Sergeant White said. "My supervisor, 2nd Lt. Kenneth Canty, 90th SFS, relieved me of my desk sergeant duties so I could work on it.

I also had help working on it from Master Sgt. Chad Glazier, 90th SFS. If I had a couple of days to work on everything, it would've been that much better."

Family is a big deal to Sergeant White. He said they support him 100 percent, especially in his decision to go up for the award.

"My wife and my mom are extremely proud of me," Sergeant White said. "If I win at the Air Force level, I get to go to Washington D.C."

Sergeant White said he'd like to take them both to the award ceremony, "but if it comes down to taking only one person with me, it'd definitely be my wife."

He said he's very excited but cautious to see the Air Force level results come out.

This Department of Defense award is given out to those who have supported the Global War on Terror, and demonstrate role-model qualities and the core values of their respective branch.

Even if you don't think you have a shot at winning, or you think you don't deserve it, go out and do it anyway, he said.

"You won't know the outcome, unless you try," Sergeant White said. "Just keep doing it."