Outstanding NCO award presented to Staff Sgt. Robert Krider Published June 8, 2014 By Master Sgt. Dominique Chapman, 104th Fighter Wing 104th Fighter Wing 104th Fighter Wing, Westfield, Mass. -- Each year, the Armed Forces Committee of Worcester County honors one service. This year's honor went to the United States Air Force and was celebrated at the College of the Holy Cross's 87th Annual dinner, May 17, 2014. Since 1971 the Committee has recognized its first outstanding non-commissioned officer. The branch of service being honored makes the selection, which is based upon outstanding performance to the service, and involvement in the community. The award has been given to 42 distinguished recipients. This year our own Staff Sgt. Robert Krider has joined the ranks as the 2014 outstanding Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) Award recipient. Following WWI, a local group of veterans started the Army-Navy Dinner Committee. The goal was to foster patriotism and comradeship by annually sponsoring a dinner, which honored the military in the community. Through the years the committee gathered support from the active duty personnel as well as Reserves of Army, Navy, Air Force Coast Guard, National Guard, and ROTC units from local colleges. Veterans of Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm and other recent conflicts have joined their older comrades of World War I and World War II in supporting the goals of the committee. This year's guest speaker was Maj. Gen. Rice, The Adjutant General, Massachusetts National Guard, who also flew A-10's for the 104th Fighter Wing, Massachusetts Air National Guard. Maj. Gen. Rice spoke about our core values and the importance of abiding by them as airmen. Values of which were exemplified by this year's recipient of the Armed Forces Committee of Worcester County's Outstanding NCO award, Staff Sgt. Robert Krider. Please join me in congratulating Staff Sgt. Krider!!