AFSA Chapter 1156 earns top awards

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jon Winters
  • 341st Missile Security Forces Squadron
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Support for the Air Force and its programs have always been the major focus of the Air Force Sergeants' Association. The Association sponsors the Air Force Pitsenberger Award, First Sergeant of the Year and many more. Each year, AFSA supports every Major Air Command Awards Program and every Air Force Senior NCO Academy and Air Force First Sergeant Academy graduation.

Additionally, each month AFSA supports all 55 Fisher Houses, which care for military members and their families. All 141 State Veterans Homes are also supported by AFSA on a monthly basis. Various AFSA scholarship programs have assisted Air Force family members through the Combined Federal Campaign and donations at the annual Professional Airmen's Conference. The total scholarship fund to further benefit college bound students is at $1,765,300.

The Malmstrom Air Force Base Chapter 1156 recently received two major awards for their work done in 2012. They were selected as the 2012 Division 11 Large Chapter of the Year and Master Sgt. Nicholas Sinnott, 341st Medical Operations Squadron member, was named the AFSA Division 11 Member of the Year. Malmstrom's chapter received the large chapter of the year award for the first time in 15 years, an honor that wouldn't have been possible without the following council members:

· Master Sgt. Nicholas Sinnott, president
· Master Sgt. Colin Crandall, vice president
· Senior Master Sgt. Cynthia Boots, senior advisor
· Staff Sgt. Walter Falls, military affairs
· Tech. Sgt. Gabriel Carbajal, civic affairs
· Master Sgt. Tara Heagle, legislative affairs
· Staff Sgt. Mary Ann Pastor, communications
· Master Sgts. Shawn Messer and Sherri Crandall, membership coordinators
· Staff Sgt. Adam Rideaux, Airmen activity coordinator
· Staff Sgt. Timothy Lombardi, secretary
· Tech. Sgt. Kristen Marfa, treasurer
· Master Sgt. Sherri Crandall, sergeant at arms
· Staff Sgt. Nathan Henry, programs
· Jim Simmonds, retiree affairs

In 2012, AFSA dedicated more than 1,300 hours to volunteering on and off base, in support of Relay for Life, Wing Sports Smackdown, Adopt-a-Highway, Operation Warm Heart and more. Malmstrom's chapter sponsored all five professional development seminars on base whilst meeting all goals to include increasing membership and fundraising drives. Because of their efforts, more than 1,000 Team Malmstrom members were able to receive supervisory and leadership training.

The 2013 council, led by Master Sgt. Colin Crandall, has worked to seek new members who can make a difference. For those interested, AFSA is a private organization that supports quality-of-life initiatives as well as financially sponsoring on-base events and programs; participates in off-base community service projects and promotes esprit de corps among active duty members, retirees and dependents. If anyone is interested in attending meetings or becoming a member AFSA meet on the last Wednesday of every month with free pizza at Aces High Bowling Center at 11 a.m.