Disney Bound...actually Chicago Bound

  • Published
  • By Capt. Matthew T. Mutti, Wing Executive Staff Officer
  • 104th Fighter Wing
BARNES AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Massachusetts --  The votes are tallied, and the winner is....the 104th Service Flight. The Hennessey Travelers Association recently named the104th Services Flight as the winner of the 2008 Senior Master Sgt. Kenneth W. Disney award.

This is the second time in 5 years that the team from Barnes was selected as the top Services Flight in the Air National Guard. Under the leadership of Capt. Ramon Diaz Jr., Chief Master Sgt. Richard Bates, Senior Master Sgt. Richard Baker, Senior Master Sgt. Bill Butman and Master Sgt. Jim Tierney, the team was able to demonstrate for the judges what the Barnstormer family has come to expect from the 104th Services Flight...pure excellence.

During the Hennessey Team out-brief many of the outstanding Airmen were highlighted, but two individuals were recognized with an opportunity to attend a one-week culinary arts course in California, sponsored by the Culinary Institute of America. Along with top chefs from throughout the country, Tech. Sgt. Tanya Sweeney and Staff Sgt. Quincy Cope will learn various aspects of advanced food preparation.

"The teamwork and pride demonstrated by this flight was incredible," said Mr. Jim Krueger, Hennessy Travelers Association Secretary/Treasurer. "We typically do not recognize two members for the culinary art scholarship, but these two shined so brightly."

In recognition for winning this competition, the Services Flight will take part in the National Restaurant Association convention in Chicago Ill. and be awarded the Disney award amidst thousands of restaurateurs and professionals in the realm of restaurant and travel administration.

"I am so proud of the hard work this flight puts in every drill," said Col. E.J. Gunning, 104th Mission Support Group Commander. "Their dedication and commitment to excellence is visible in everything they do, from meal preparation, to their work on developing a readiness response team. They are the best in the ANG and now they have the hardware to back it up."