Barksdale Airman Named one of Air Force's 12 Best

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Chad Warren
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  A Team Barksdale Senior Airman was recently named one of the Air Force 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2012.

Senior Airman Bryenna Brooks, a member of the 2nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron, was chosen for the annual award based on her superior leadership, job performance, community involvement and personal achievements as an enlisted member of the Air Force.

"Senior Airman Brooks is a hard worker, she looks for opportunities to improve the system all while being humble," said Staff Sgt. Emily Rideout, Brooks' supervisor and AMDS personnel reliability program clinic NCO in charge. "She is proud and honored to be able to represent the medical career field."

Some of Brook's accomplishments include being the single convoy medic on 25 missions, which transported 1,200 soldiers and $5.6 thousand in ammunition in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. While deployed to Afghanistan, she earned the Purple Heart for providing medical care to fellow convoy members, despite being wounded herself, after a rocket-propelled grenade attack during a convoy mission, a Combat Medical Badge, an Air Force Combat Action Medal, the Army Commendation Medal and a Joint Service Commendation Medal for her actions June 3, 2011.

After being selected as one of the top Airmen in Air Force Global Strike Command, Brooks was named one of 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year recipients picked from Airmen representing the major commands, direct reporting units, field operating agencies and Air Staff agencies.

The AOY program was initiated at the Air Force Association's annual national conference in New Orleans in 1956. The selection board consists of a general officer, the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force and selected command chiefs from all the MAJCOMs. The selections are then reviewed by the Air Force Chief of Staff.

"I feel very honored to be selected for the award," said Brooks, who attributes much of her success over the past year to the mentorship and insight she gained from her joint-service group during her deployment to Afghanistan.

"I really enjoyed my deployment and everything I learned while there," she said. "I really enjoy working in the field."

In addition to being awarded the Outstanding Airman ribbon with the bronze star device and being able to wear the Outstanding Airman badge for one year, Brooks will also have the opportunity to serve on the Air Force Enlisted Council for one year, representing Team Barksdale and helping shape the future of the Air Force, according to the AFA website.

The AFA will honor the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year at an event in Washington, D.C., Sept. 15 to 20, and hold a banquet in honor of the recipients Sept. 17, according to AFA representative Lynette Cross.