Deployed Airman receives Sharp Troop Award

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Santana Austin
  • 445th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  "Excellence in all we do" is one of the three core values in the Air Force.

The Sharp Troop Award is awarded to those who best exemplify the meaning of that core value. Staff Sgt. Jordan C. West, 87th Aerial Port Squadron, was awarded the Sharp Troop Award on April 30, 2011. Sergeant West is currently attached to the 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron, Southwest Asia.

"Sergeant West has been with the 87th APS since 2006. In all the years he's worked with us, he has always gone above and beyond," said Chief Master Sgt. Sean D. Storms, 87th APS.

While in the 87th APS, he helps with operating and providing the military logistical functions assigned to aerial ports, including processing personnel and cargo, rigging for airdrop, packing parachutes, loading equipment, preparing air cargo and load plans, loading and securing aircraft, ejecting cargo for in-flight delivery, and supervising units engaged in aircraft loading and unloading operations.

"He also works with the passenger terminal here. Being in APS, you've got to be well-versed on loading aircraft, building pallets, working with passengers and handling explosives," said Chief Storms. "It can be a pretty tedious job, but he does the job with little to no trouble."

In the 8th EAMS, he is part of the team that provides expeditionary mobility to the servicemembers in four locations in the U>S. Central Command area of responsibility.

The squadron is part of the 521st Air Mobility Operations Group which provides enroute support for Air Mobility Command missions at multiple throughout Southern Europe and the CENTCOM AOR.

"While deployed, Sergeant West works with passenger terminal, sets up flights, puts people on the aircraft and keeps them in secure areas whenever they get ready to deploy," said Chief Storms. "At that base; you name it, he does it."

Essentially, the award reveals that he is one who goes above and beyond the call of duty, both at the 87th APS and overseas.

"Sergeant West does anything that is asked of him, and he does an excellent job of whatever it may be," Chief Storms said. "I really couldn't ask for a better worker."