Eielson Airman represents AFSA

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Rachelle Coleman
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Staff Sgt. Jeanne Perkins will represent Air Force Sergeants Association Chapter 1474 Eielson at this years' Air Force Professional Airman's Conference held Aug. 13 through 19 in Atlanta, Georgia.

The conference draws many senior AF, Department of Defense and other government leaders and subject matter experts.

Sergeant Perkins, an Airman Leadership School instructor, won NCO of the Year at the AFSA division 14 conference in May. Division 14 encompasses Air Force bases in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington. She is currently competing for NCO of the Year.

In addition to her duties as an ALS instructor, she is also the Vice President of AFSA and the treasurer of Icemen 5/6.

"I'm excited because I've never won NCO of the Year or NCO of the Quarter or squadron stuff. I'm a worker, I do what I like to do, I'm not in it to win it, I'm in it to make a difference," said Sergeant Perkins.

Sergeant Perkins, who joined AFSA six years ago as a Senior Airman, realized the importance of being involved in not only this organization but other organizations and community volunteer opportunities.

"It's inspirational to see that, to have a subordinate like her that goes above and beyond just in normal day to day work and actually appreciates the other parts of the Air Force and gets involved," said Master Sgt. Dan Dwyer, ALS commandant and her supervisor. "She's not just involved with AFSA; she gets involved in Icemen 5/6 as their treasurer. She gets out and gets things done across the base, the wing, and the squadron - at all levels."

"She epitomizes the enlisted force structure, leading by example - she's going to college, gets out there in the community and helps out with different organizations and events," he added.

For AFSA, Sergeant Perkins has done more than fill her treasury role; she played a vital role in boosting the chapter funds and membership allowing AFSA to continue to provide services for many of their projects.

"She deserves this award because of her dedication to AFSA, the Air Force and her involvement in the base and local community," said Master Sgt. John Victor, President of the Eielson AFSA Chapter. "Tech. Sgt. Perkins is the AFSA [point-of-contact] for all award and scholarship presentations such as the ALS AFSA Award, Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, and staff sergeant promotion certificates. She is also the fundraiser committee chair, coordinating five fundraisers bringing in more than twenty-five thousand dollars."

Not only was she the fundraiser chair, she served as the vice-president for the chapter and stepped up as president during Sergeant Victor's deployment.

"Her dedication was the key to our chapter's winning three awards last year," he said. "She was also personally coined by our division president for an outstanding job."

Eielson AFSA won awards for the Best Small Chapter, Silver Star Recruitment and an award for the first chapter to reach 100 new recruits.

"It's nice to be recognized for all of the accomplishments but it's definitely a team effort," said Sergeant Perkins, "no one individual makes a difference. I've had a wonderful support team with the local chapter and even though I carried the brunt of the load with the rest of the council members being deployed, the chapter still pressed forward and we were able to do all of the great things that we're committed to without any shortfalls on our requirements."