Tyndall finance Airmen facilitated base rebuild, won Air Force award

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Stefan Alvarez
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

A small team assisted in getting over 11,000 people from the 325th Fighter Wing out of Hurricane Michael’s path once the evacuation order was given, and continued to provide support when Tyndall needed to be rebuilt.

Created in honor of Gen. Larry O. Spencer, the Special Acts and Services award recognizes service members and civilians who have exhibited a selfless spirit of service to others.

Tyndall’s very own 325th Comptroller Squadron fit the bill for this prestigious award. Their selflessness and dedication to the safety of others and the reconstruction efforts for the base has earned them the Gen. Larry O. Spencer Special Acts and Services Award.

“Our team had a vital role in the base getting back on its feet,” said Senior Master Sgt. Carlos Cintron, 325th CPTS superintendent. “They modified per diem to make sure everyone helping us was getting paid, and were able to use their Government Travel Cards to pay for lodging. Due to the nature of the situation we had to increase everyone’s limits and extend cutoffs and deadlines.”

There was a lot of personnel and resources that needed to be taken care of. That meant securing future funds to pay the military and civilian personnel before Hurricane Michael made landfall.

"There was a lot to do before the hurricane reached our shores,” Cintron said. “Despite the evacuation order, the team had work hard to ensure the next several months of pay for the civilians went smoothly. They made sure the personnel and base assets were accounted for. We have a $1 billion portfolio that needed to be rock solid before the storm came.”

Once the hurricane passed and the sun shined again, the 325th CPTS came right back and started helping to organize the rebuild after the destruction of the Category 5 hurricane.

“There was a lot of work to be done after the storm passed,” said Cintron. “We held briefings, overhauled the Permanent Change of Station program, established new guidelines, and had to fill gaps in several programs to make sure that the base had help where it needed it most.”

This group of volunteers was vital in securing the safety and wellbeing of the base’s population and continued to work and dedicate their time despite most of the facilities being badly damaged. They rose to the challenge and helped get the 325th Fighter Wing back on its feet.

“I’m proud of this team and what they’ve accomplished," Cintron said. “A lot of people came back after the hurricane and lost everything. They embody what it means to be an Airman. They could have easily left to another base when they were offered, but they chose to stay and help their wingmen and their families and that is nothing short of outstanding.”

Their selflessness and dedication to the safety of others and the reconstruction efforts for the base has earned them the Gen. Larry O. Spencer Special Acts and Services Award.

A small team assisted in getting over 11,000 people from the 325th Fighter Wing out of Hurricane Michael’s path once the evacuation order was given, and continued to provide support when Tyndall needed to be rebuilt.

Created in honor of Gen. Larry O. Spencer, the Special Acts and Services award recognizes service members and civilians who have exhibited a selfless spirit of service to others.

Tyndall’s very own 325th Comptroller Squadron fit the bill for this prestigious award. Their selflessness and dedication to the safety of others and the reconstruction efforts for the base has earned them the Gen. Larry O. Spencer Special Acts and Services Award.

“Our team had a vital role in the base getting back on its feet,” said Senior Master Sgt. Carlos Cintron, 325th CPTS superintendent. “They modified per diem to make sure everyone helping us was getting paid, and were able to use their Government Travel Cards to pay for lodging. Due to the nature of the situation we had to increase everyone’s limits and extend cutoffs and deadlines.”

There was a lot of personnel and resources that needed to be taken care of. That meant securing future funds to pay the military and civilian personnel before Hurricane Michael made landfall.

"There was a lot to do before the hurricane reached our shores,” Cintron said. “Despite the evacuation order, the team had work hard to ensure the next several months of pay for the civilians went smoothly. They made sure the personnel and base assets were accounted for. We have a $1 billion portfolio that needed to be rock solid before the storm came.”

Once the hurricane passed and the sun shined again, the 325th CPTS came right back and started helping to organize the rebuild after the destruction of the Category 5 hurricane.

“There was a lot of work to be done after the storm passed,” said Cintron. “We held briefings, overhauled the Permanent Change of Station program, established new guidelines, and had to fill gaps in several programs to make sure that the base had help where it needed it most.”

This group of volunteers was vital in securing the safety and wellbeing of the base’s population and continued to work and dedicate their time despite most of the facilities being badly damaged. They rose to the challenge and helped get the 325th Fighter Wing back on its feet.

“I’m proud of this team and what they’ve accomplished," Cintron said. “A lot of people came back after the hurricane and lost everything. They embody what it means to be an Airman. They could have easily left to another base when they were offered, but they chose to stay and help their wingmen and their families and that is nothing short of outstanding.”

Their selflessness and dedication to the safety of others and the reconstruction efforts for the base has earned them the Gen. Larry O. Spencer Special Acts and Services Award.