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“My entire Air Force career I haven’t won any awards, until now,”
Gittens said. “Honor guard has definitely rewarded me for my hard
work.”
The Program Manager of the Year award program goes
through multiple levels to determine the winner. It starts off at
the base level, where individuals put in a package to be selected
for the award. The package then goes up to the numbered Air Force
level. This is where individuals are evaluated and compared to
candidates from other bases. Next, the best candidates are chosen
from their respective major command level. Lastly, those who were
submitted for the 12 outstanding Airmen of the Year level are
chosen.
At first, honor guard wasn’t even a thought for then-Air Force
Airman 1st Class Quinton Gittens.
Then, Gittens was tasked
to join the honor guard program.
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February 27, 2017 - U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Quinton Gittens, 633rd
Force Support Squadron readiness NCO in charge respectfully holds a
folded American flag at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA. Gittens won
the 2016 9th Air Force Program Manager of the Year as the Langley
Honor Guard manager. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Tristan Biese)
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“When I started honor guard, I wasn’t the best,” said Gittens,
who’s now a staff sergeant with the 633rd Force Support Squadron
here.
“I was struggling pretty badly, but as time went on I
ended up liking it, and I ended up doing really well at it,” he
said.
Leading, Helping Airmen
For Gittens, honor guard
became more than just doing details and participating in ceremonies.
It became an opportunity to lead and help airmen become better.
After seven years of serving as an honor guardsman, Gitten was
recognized for that leadership and received the 9th Air Force
Program Manager of the Year award in 2016.
“My entire Air Force career I haven’t won any awards, until now,”
Gittens said. “Honor guard has definitely rewarded me for my hard
work.”
The Program Manager of the Year award program goes
through multiple levels to determine the winner. It starts off at
the base level, where individuals put in a package to be selected
for the award. The package then goes up to the numbered Air Force
level. This is where individuals are evaluated and compared to
candidates from other bases. Next, the best candidates are chosen
from their respective major command level. Lastly, those who were
submitted for the 12 outstanding Airmen of the Year level are
chosen.
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March 1, 2017 - U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Quinton Gittens, 633rd
Force Support Squadron readiness NCO in charge, assesses the honor
guard team during training at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA. The
team practiced a detail that would be performed during a funeral
service. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Tristan Biese)
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While Gittens was very excited and accepted his award
with great gratitude, he didn’t want to take all the credit.
According to Gittens, the airmen he led were his
motivation. If it wasn’t for them, he doesn’t think he would
have been a candidate for the award.
“Bettering
someone, that is my motivation,” Gittens said. “If I reach
out to you and help change your life … and I see the
positive results from that, that’s my motivation.”
Gittens truly cares about the airmen he mentored, to the
point where he turned down a position at the Air Force Honor
Guard, since he believed he could better impact airmen at
the base level.
“The definition of a true leader is
having people who are willing to follow you,” Gittens said.
“That’s what I lead by.”
By U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Tristan Biese
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2017
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