Awards, decorations focus of 931st leadership

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Connor Burkhard
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  Last month it was self inspections. For August, it's award and decorations.

That was the monthly theme Col. Edsel "Archie" Frye Jr., commander of the 931st Air Refueling Group, presented to his leadership staff during the Group's August unit training assembly.

"It's not that hard to recognize someone for the hard work that they do," he told them.

There is no excuse, he said, for not recognizing members for their outstanding service and achievements, especially since the process to recommend a member for decoration is now more streamlined.

Awards and decorations are submitted electronically through VPC-GR, or the Virtual Personnel Center - Guard Reserve, which can be accessed through the Air Force Portal. Once submitted, the decoration is then automatically routed to the approving official.

"Because this whole thing is coordinated online, we have more ownership of the process and are better able to take care of our own people," said Senior Master Sgt. Mackey Housman, 931st Military Personnel Flight superintendant.

The online program features convenient functions, to include auto-population of duty information and recommended opening/closing statements. Colonel Frye is urging leaders to take advantage of the simple process and to look especially hard for Reservists who have served for three years without an award.

"(Air Force Instruction) states individuals should be considered for an award after three years. Maybe not granted, but considered," said Sergeant Housman. "We don't want to just give people decorations, they have to earn them."

Award recommendations, Colonel Frye said to his staff, should not be written by just a few Airmen in each 931st unit. The bigger the unit, the more delegation needed. Ideally, he said, senior airmen and airmen 1st class are writing recommendations too.

"Since Colonel Frye took over, he has focused on taking care of his people," said Sergeant Housman. "This is a people program."

In December, Colonel Frye said he plans to present an award to the 931st unit with the highest percentage of awards submitted.