Tyndall sergeant earns Detachment NCO of the Year award

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kirsten Wicker
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Tyndall Staff Sgt. Michael Sazama, 372nd Training Squadron, Det. 4, F-22 Raptor crew chief instructor, earned the Detachment NCO of the Year award during the 2012 Maintenance and Staff Professionals of the Year banquet in Hangar 1 March 15.

The Oakville, Mo. native said it felt good to receive the award. The award recognizes outstanding Airmen who train maintainers.

"Winning the award definitely felt good," he said. "After five years of hard work I feel like I have finally been recognized for the long hours and effort I put into my job every day."

Sergeant Sazama has been in the Air Force for five and a half years and has worked in the maintenance career field as a crew chief throughout his enlistment. His favorite part about his job is teaching.

"My favorite part about being an instructor is getting to pass the knowledge I have learned about the F-22 on to new students," Sergeant Sazama said. "Most of them are very eager to learn everything they can. It is very rewarding watching how they react when they see the F-22 for the first time, remove and replace certain parts, then eventually launch their first jet and watch it take off."

The MPOY banquet recognizes the achievements of the maintenance group and honors maintenance professionals each year.

"Sergeant Sazama is my go-to guy," said Tech. Sgt. Randy Helton, 372nd TRS, Det. 4 lead production scheduler and Sergeant Sazama's supervisor. "He bleeds esprit de corps."

The original maintenance professional award was established in 1979 to recognize outstanding performance of direct, sortie-producing maintenance specialists. Support, training and staff personnel make vital contributions to effective sortie production. Tyndall recognizes these important professionals in their diversified career fields.

For more photos of the event, Common Access Card holders can click here.