JBSA-FORT SAM HOUSTON –
Joint Base San Antonio senior officials announced the selection of its annual award winners for 2012 at the JBSA Annual Awards Ceremony, held at the Marriott Rivercenter Hotel in downtown San Antonio March 8.
What was different about this year's selections was that all services - Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard - were represented in the 10 overall categories, with 37 service members and government civilian employees honored together.
They were selected among finalists from all three JBSA military locations: JBSA-Lackland, JBSA-Randolph, and JBSA-Fort Sam Houston.
"We pay tribute to our great Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airmen, Coastguardsmen and civilians in Joint Base San Antonio for their commitment and selfless service to our nation," said Joint Base San Antonio Command Chief Master Sgt. Jose A. LugoSantiago.
"Our nominees and award recipients distinguished themselves as the best of the best."
"This event brought us together as a community," said Command Sgt. Maj. Rodney J. Rhoades, Mission & Installation Contracting Command. "It afforded us a chance to meet and interact with the very best of our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, Coastguardsmen, and civilians. I am always grateful for the opportunity to learn more about what each of the services are doing for Joint Base San Antonio."
"We have diversity in JBSA that exists nowhere else," said LugoSantiago about the decision to hold a joint ceremony this year. "Why not celebrate the excellence that exists when we come together to celebrate our diversity? We are stronger when we come together."
"The JBSA Annual Awards Ceremony was a great step towards unifying all the services in the community," said Command Master Chief James R. Perry, Navy Medical Education and Training Command. "It was great to see people together from all the services, along with our civilians. It makes the JBSA family stronger in both our personal and professional development."
The official party was led by Brig. Gen. Theresa C. Carter, Commander, 502nd Air Base Wing and Joint Base San Antonio; retired Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps Gene Overstreet and 502nd Air Base Wing and LugoSantiago.
To see more photos from the ceremony, click on the JBSA Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/JointBaseSanAntonio.