A glimpse at the command's Airmen of the Year

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JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas --  Here is a glimpse at the accomplishments of the Air Force Reserve Command Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2013.

The winners who will represent the command in Air Force competition later this year are:

First Sergeant - Senior Master Sgt. Eric Smith, 433rd Security Forces Squadron, JB San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Above and "way beyond" is how people describe Smith's approach to being a first sergeant. The position requires innate people skills, something that others felt Smith had in abundance to earn a 100 percent positive rating during the unit climate assessment survey.

"First Sergeant Eric Smith goes way and I mean way beyond what is required of a first sergeant," said Maj. Bill Dains, 433rd SFS commander. Smith understands the "heart-beat" of the unit and what "makes them tick," Dains said.

A consummate team leader and motivator, Smith offers advice to Airmen who want to excel. "Always keep a positive attitude and embrace what the Air Force has to offer," he said. "And remember, you may have to defer some of your dreams and aspirations, but whatever you do, don't ever give up."

Senior NCO - Master Sgt. Patrick Hampton, Detachment 1, 8th Space Warning Squadron, Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado. As the flight chief in the standards and evaluation division, this space systems operator insures compliance with policies and procedures and conducts evaluations of a Total Force crew of 100 operators. His boss, Lt. Col. John Doucet, said Hampton's unwavering dedication to the mission and Airman make him a stand out, and he has earned "the utmost level of respect of his peers, subordinates and supervisors alike."

Hampton stood out as the "Altus Tendo" superior leadership award winner at the Coast Guard Senior NCO Academy. He humbly attributes his successes in life to his parents, wife, and his Air Force family.

Hampton volunteers with several organizations. He led a Black Forest Fire Food Drive to deliver 2,000 pounds of food and supplies to help 100 families affected by the forest fire. Additionally, as the 310th Space Wing Top 3 president, he founded a scholarship program to help Airmen attain their Community College of the Air Force degrees.

NCO - Tech Sgt. William Posch, 308th Rescue Squadron, Patrick AFB, Florida. Posch works in one of the most physically challenging, low-density, high-demand career fields in the military. Pararescuemen are dedicated to their motto "These Things We Do, That Others May Live." Posch demonstrated that through more than 140 combat rescues as well as leading the evacuation of 126 Americans from the U.S. Embassy in Juba, Sudan, during a violent uprising. Posch also planned and executed upgrade training for 18 fellow pararescuemen 90 days ahead of schedule and was one of three Airmen selected for an exercise with Navy Seals.

Volunteerism is core to Posch's character. He works with the Make A Wish Foundation to create a GI Joe combat scenario for terminally ill children and has dedicated more than 1,200 hours to the American Red Cross Volunteer Lifesaving Corps.

Airman - Senior Airman Tyler Mohr, 445th Airlift Wing, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. Calling Mohr an over-achiever is an understatement. A traditional reservist, Mohr typically works both unit training assembly weekends as a command post controller at the 445th, volunteers with the base honor guard flight as well as the development and training flight that prepares new recruits for basic training. Mohr's "get-er-done" work ethic typically has him staying past the end of his shift to make sure critical tasks are completed. During 2013, Mohr orchestrated command and control for 42 Operation New Dawn missions, involving the movement of 3,335 passengers and 2,100 tons of cargo.

As a civilian, Mohr is a contract administrator with the Defense Contract Management Agency, administering and monitoring a $5 billion United States Special Operations Command contract. He has a Master's Degree in Administration from Central Michigan University, Bachelor's Degrees in Management, Health Care Management, Hospitality and Tourism Management and an Associate's Degree in Emergency Management from the Community College of the Air Force.