The 72nd Air Base Wing knows how to put the “team” in Team Tinker. Two teams were recently honored with Wildcatter Awards from 72nd ABW Commander Col. Stephanie Wilson.
The Tinker Chaplain Corps team has really shined this year through exceptional service and leadership to the Tinker community.
During the first quarter of 2016, the chapel team supported on-base programs through $450 for the Navy’s Chaplain Corps team’s mission, provided more than $5,700 funds and co-planned the base’s first Story Teller event featuring Kevin Hines. They also ensured the success of the base movie nights donating more than $1,000 for food and beverages, and co-led and provided $273.83 to Team Tinker’s annual MLK celebration. Grand total of financial support directly back to the base was nearly $7,500, positively affecting the lives of thousands of Team Tinker’s personnel and their families.
The HC team directed chapel community support initiatives which led to $16,798.74 of chapel funds (tithes and offerings) contributed to organizations such as Wounded Warrior, Cru Military (Crusades for Christ ministry to military), Disabled American Veterans organization, Iron Springs camp for kids and chaplains’ endorsers.
The chapel team also conducted 115 spiritual resiliency events ensuring spiritual fitness in the lives of 6,500 people. The staff guided 350 volunteers for 200 hours, saving the U.S. Air Force $4,600 in equivalent funds.
The Religious Support Teams provided 405.9 hours in Squadron Focused Warrior Care, 205 counseling sessions for 263 clients, 4,352 unit engagements, 763 advisements to leaders, supported two sexual assault victims and saved one life through suicide intervention.
All of these successes were accomplished while planning the re-opening of the religious education facility for April.
Members of the 72nd ABW Chapel Team are Chaplains (Lt. Col.) Sammy C. Tucker Jr., (Maj.) John Key, (Capt.) Bill Mesaeh, (Capt.) Matt Mendenhall, (Capt.) Christopher Broeker and (1st Lt.) Kory Capps, Tech. Sgts. Andre Thomas, Lachanda Parsons and Samuel Lollar, Staff Sgt. Rymir Salsberry, Senior Airman Simone Seals, Father Patrick McCool, Janina Peter, Jim Black, Julie Bierne, Brandi Briscoe, David Briscoe, Patricia Bentley, Lisa Cacao, Lolly Casey, Victor Chretin, Ernie Nunez, Kim Chretin and Susanna Brieschke, along with approximately 200 chapel volunteers.
The 72nd ABW Civil Engineering Contract Recompete Teams (Operations and Engineering Contracts) were instrumental in the development of the performance work statements, IGE’s, Surveillance Plans and other requirements that allowed CE and Contracting to successfully solicit and award two of the most important contracts administered by the 72nd ABW, the CE Services Engineering and Operations Contracts. These are multi-year contracts worth more than $55 million and $550 million respectively.
This was a single requirement before and it took hundreds of hours to separate the two contracts, incorporate needed upgrades and ensure the workload data presented was accurate and complete. The contracts incorporate lessons learned from previous contracts and also incorporate new contract types and technical requirements that will greatly enhance the capabilities and services provided to ABW customers. These team members definitely have the tenacious, calculated risk-taking attitude of a Wildcatter and are the finest examples of the U.S. Air Force Core Values of integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do.
Team members are Gary McCracken (Engineering, CE), Aruna Abhayagoonawardhana (Operations, CE), Kevin Saunders (Operations, CE), Ilesh Patel (Operations and Engineering, CE), Candice Dittmer (Engineering, PZ) and Kim Delong (Operations, PZ).