442nd Maintainers recognized at Hogfest 2005

  • Published
  • By Maj. David Kurle
  • 442nd Fighter Wing
Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. --  Dining, dancing and recognizing the best of the best in the maintenance community was the mission for the evening as the 442nd Maintenance Group held its annual gathering and awards ceremony, dubbed “HogFest,” Nov. 5 in Sedalia.

Described as a way for “the enlisted maintenance personnel to recognize and honor their fellow enlisted members for exceptional and outstanding performance,” the evening included awards presentations, a dinner and dancing to live music.

Maintainers received awards in 14 categories and were called up to the front for recognition by the 442nd Fighter Wing’s command chief master sergeant, Chief David Isaacson, who presided as master of ceremonies.

The awards were presented by Capt. Mike Riley, 442nd Maintenance Squadron commander; Lt. Col. Alan Priest, 442nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander; Lt. Col. Eric Vanderlinden, 442nd Maintenance Group deputy commander; Col. Dewayne Burgess, 442nd MXG commander; and Col. Patrick Cord, 442nd Fighter Wing commander.

It’s great to mingle with everyone in a social setting instead of a work environment,” said Staff Sgt. James Sollars, a 442nd AMXS crew chief and award winner. The award winners in each category were:

442nd Maintenance Squadron
Senior Enlisted Member of the Year
Tech. Sgt. Regina Brewer 

442nd MXS Junior Enlsited Member of the Year
Senior Airman Kenneth Kephart Jr. 

442nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Senior Enlisted Member of the Year
Tech. Sgt. John Straka 

442nd AMXS Junior Enlisted Member of the Year
Staff Sgt. James Sollars 

442nd Maintenance Operations Flight Senior Enlisted Member of the Year
Tech. Sgt. Rebecca Smith 

442nd MOF Junior Enlisted Member of the Year
Staff Sgt. John Adair 

442nd Munitions Flight Senior Enlisted Member of the Year
Master Sgt. Steve Cohick 

442nd Munitions Flight Junior Enlisted Member of the Year
Staff Sgt. Roger Brinkerhoff 

442nd AMXS Crew Chief of the Year
Tech. Sgt. Aaron McRoberts 

442nd AMXS Assistant Crew Chief of the Year
Senior Airman Aaron Berry 

442nd AMXS Load Crew of the Year
Master Sgt. Kenneth Temple
Staff Sgt. Christine Nicewander
Staff Sgt. Jeremy Rowles 

442nd Maintenance Group Senior Enlisted Member of the Year
Tech. Sgt. Regina Brewer 

442nd MXG Junior Enlisted Member of the Year
Staff Sgt. Roger Brinkerhoff 

Outstanding Community Service Award
Tech. Sgt. Geary Rose
Tech. Sgt. Duston Ross

“I was totally surprised , it was totally unexpected,” Sergeant Sollars said about his award. “It was definitely a team effort. I’ve had a lot of help from trainer (Tech. Sgt.) Tyler Bane.” Master Sgt. Steve Cohick, a munitions system technician in the 442nd Munitions Flight, agreed with the team concept in earning his award.

“It’s quite a team effort,” he said. “I just feel like I do my job to the best of my ability and it’s great that supervisors take notice.”

Sergeant Cohick also served on the committee that planned this year’s HogFest.

“We try to change the theme every year,” he said. “This year it was a ‘70s theme, complete with lava lamps and black lights.”

The musical group “Blues Trip” capped off the evening with a live-band dance. Senior Master Sgt. Steve Smith from the 442nd Fighter Wing Safety Office is a guitarist with the group and even sang a few songs from the ‘70s in keeping with this year’s theme.