16 November 2016

USAWOA ANNUAL AWARDS PRESENTED AT 44TH AMM

AWARD WINNEROutstanding Region Southeastern RegionOutstanding Chapter Redstone Arsenal Chapter Community Affairs For Donations Lord Fairfax Silver ChapterCommunity Affairs For Services To The Community Above the Best Silver ChapterCommunity Affairs For Sustaining Programs Redstone Arsenal ChapterBest Officer Professional Development Program Northwest Silver ChapterOverall Best Region for Recruitment and Retention Southeastern RegionOverall Best Chapter for Recruiting and Retention Patriot ChapterHighest Recruiting Award Above the Best Silver ChapterBest Retention Award Motor City ChapterBest Recruiting Award Fort Bragg Silver ChapterBest Web Page Rhein Neckar Silver Chapter

Chapter and Region Awards

CHAPTER LONGEVITY AWARDSLone Star Silver Chapter 40 YearsDerby Chapter 20 YearsFort Dix Doughboy Chapter 20 YearsGold Rush Chapter 20 YearsNorthern California Chapter 20 YearsTop of the World Chapter 20 YearsFort Lowell Apache Chapter 15 YearsStar of the North Chapter 15 YearsRazorback Chapter 5 YearsTampa Bay Chapter 5 Years

Pictured at the European Region Warrant Officer Ball earlier this year are Rheinland-Pfalz Silver Chapter member CW3 Gordon A. Pollet and his wife Lisa (at right). At that event, they were recognized as the European Region Warrant Officer of the Year and Spouse of the Year. Based on the strength of their tremendous contributions to their Chapter and the entire European Region as a whole, they were recognized (in absentia) as the winners of the USAWOA’s Albert Holcombe Memorial Award for Warrant Officer of the Year, and Virginia M. Holcombe Memorial Award for Warrant Officer Spouse of the Year.

November 2016 17

USAWOA ANNUAL AWARDS PRESENTED AT 44TH AMM

Not only did the Southeastern Region win the 2016 Outstanding Region Award, but past Deputy Region Director CW4 (Ret) Johnie M. Keeter, Sr. was honored with the Don Hess Lifetime Achievement Award. Posing left to right are National Vice President CW2 (Ret) Gerald Wentworth, Southeastern Region Director CW5 (Ret) James Rathburn, Redstone Arsenal Chapter President CW3 (Ret) Gary W. Mayers, CW4 (Ret) Keeter, Above the Best Silver Chapter President CW4 Celeste Melena, and National President CW4 (Ret) Greg Gouty.

This year, National President CW4 (Ret) Greg Gouty recognized the following with the President’s Award: ARSTAF SWO CW5 David Williams, Above the Best Silver Chapter President CW4 Celeste Melena (pictured), and Mrs. Heidi Clemons. Cw4 Melena is pictured accepting her award.

The number-one priority of the USAWOA in 2017 will be for the entire association to aggressively focus on recruiting and retaining its Members. Setting the example in 2016 was the new Patriot Chapter. Northeastern Region Director CW4 (Ret) Bill Buss is pictured receiving the Overall Best Chapter for Recruiting and Retention award on the Chapter’s behalf.

Past Fort Dix Doughboy Chapter President CW5 (Ret) Al Curving accepted the Chapter’s 20 year flag streamer, on behalf of its Members.

Partnership with other associations in The Military Coalition (TMC) is essential to USAWOA’s national-level legislative mission. Pictured left, National Executive Director CW4 (Ret) Jack Du Teil receives an award from Southern California Chapter Member CW2 (Ret) Angel Aviles, on behalf of the Military Officers Association of America, for his legislative achievements.