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Mays’ day: 188th Airman named Air Force Association’s ANG Honor Guard Program Manager of the Year

  • Published
  • By Capt. Heath Allen
  • Arkansas National Guard Public Affairs
FORT SMITH, Ark. --  Toil and dedication were the key ingredients in the recipe that allowed one 188th Fighter Wing Airman to taste victory on a national stage against some of the Air National Guard's best and brightest.

Master Sgt. Brian Mays of the 188th's Logistics Readiness Squadron was named the Air Force Association's 2010 Air National Guard Outstanding Honor Guard Program Manager of the Year during a ceremony held at Joint Base Andrews, Md., in June. An awards banquet to celebrate the winners of the sundry AFA awards was later held at Joint Base Anacostia-Boling, Washington D.C. Mays was honored locally for his achievement at the 188th during a commander's call Aug. 15.

Mays was presented the award at Andrews by Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, director of the Air National Guard, and Chief Master Sgt. Christopher E. Muncy, command chief master sergeant of the Air National Guard. Mr. Jerry Reichenbach, a representative with the AFA, presented the accolade to Mays at the 188th's com¬mander's call.

Mays was deployed with the 188th during the unit's Aerospace Expeditionary Forces rotation in Kandahar, Afghanistan, when he learned of his selection as the Air National Guard's top honor guard program manager. Mays also won the Arkansas Honor Guard Program Manager of the Year Award last May, making him eligible for nomination in the national competition.

Mays confessed he was surprised that he was selected as the national victor. Mays said that while deployed he received an e-mail from the 188th asking him to contact Col. Tom Anderson, 188th commander.

"I really didn't expect to win and I figured that state level was as high as it would go," Mays said. "I was deployed at the time and I called and Col. Anderson told me I had won. It really didn't sink in how big the award really was until I went to Washington D.C. for the awards week."

While Mays' management of the 188th's Honor Guard Program was the primary factor in his selection, he was also evaluated on myriad attributes such as leadership, job performance, self-improvement, base or community involvement, communication skills, appearance and professionalism.

"Master Sgt. Mays represents the 188th and the Arkansas National Guard with pride and professionalism," Anderson said. "He took an already great program and found innovative ways to improve it. His enthusiasm, expertise and work ethic help make the 188th's Honor Guard one of the best in the National Guard. He's definitely deserving of this award and the entire 188th family is very proud of him."

Mays, who has been a Guardsman in the 188th for 14 years, joined the unit's Honor Guard nine years ago before taking the reins of the program in 2008 just prior to the 188th's first Unit Compliance Inspection (UCI) in more than 15 years.

"From work performance to appearance, he defines professional," said Capt. Matt Holguin, 188th Honor Guard OIC. "He worked diligently to ensure the program was ready for the UCI. He received excellent comments from the Inspector General's team and contributed to the wing receiving a rating of 'Excellent' on the UCI."

Holguin said Mays helped boost Honor Guard morale by generating certificates of recognition. Mays also developed standardized detail checklists, training programs and weapons inspection procedures to ensure proper accountability and maintenance cycles. Holguin said Mays led 15 details and 26 training sessions during the award period.

"He also spearheaded the first-ever Memorandum of Understanding with the active duty Honor Guard at Little Rock Air Force Base," Holguin said. "He personally staffs all details, ensuring all members are trained, equipped and ready for each individual detail. His all-out effort resulted in zero mistakes, zero no shows, and no negative comments for any detail. He is definitely the backbone of the team."

This year has been filled with laurels for Mays. He was named the AFA's Arkansas Air National Guardsman of the Year. Mays also won the Noncommissioned Officers Association Award and the Arkansas Army National Guard State Command Sergeant Major's Award.

Mays’ day: 188th Airman named Air Force Association’s ANG Honor Guard Program Manager of the Year

  • Published
  • By Capt. Heath Allen
  • Arkansas National Guard Public Affairs
FORT SMITH, Ark. --  Toil and dedication were the key ingredients in the recipe that allowed one 188th Fighter Wing Airman to taste victory on a national stage against some of the Air National Guard's best and brightest.

Master Sgt. Brian Mays of the 188th's Logistics Readiness Squadron was named the Air Force Association's 2010 Air National Guard Outstanding Honor Guard Program Manager of the Year during a ceremony held at Joint Base Andrews, Md., in June. An awards banquet to celebrate the winners of the sundry AFA awards was later held at Joint Base Anacostia-Boling, Washington D.C. Mays was honored locally for his achievement at the 188th during a commander's call Aug. 15.

Mays was presented the award at Andrews by Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, director of the Air National Guard, and Chief Master Sgt. Christopher E. Muncy, command chief master sergeant of the Air National Guard. Mr. Jerry Reichenbach, a representative with the AFA, presented the accolade to Mays at the 188th's com¬mander's call.

Mays was deployed with the 188th during the unit's Aerospace Expeditionary Forces rotation in Kandahar, Afghanistan, when he learned of his selection as the Air National Guard's top honor guard program manager. Mays also won the Arkansas Honor Guard Program Manager of the Year Award last May, making him eligible for nomination in the national competition.

Mays confessed he was surprised that he was selected as the national victor. Mays said that while deployed he received an e-mail from the 188th asking him to contact Col. Tom Anderson, 188th commander.

"I really didn't expect to win and I figured that state level was as high as it would go," Mays said. "I was deployed at the time and I called and Col. Anderson told me I had won. It really didn't sink in how big the award really was until I went to Washington D.C. for the awards week."

While Mays' management of the 188th's Honor Guard Program was the primary factor in his selection, he was also evaluated on myriad attributes such as leadership, job performance, self-improvement, base or community involvement, communication skills, appearance and professionalism.

"Master Sgt. Mays represents the 188th and the Arkansas National Guard with pride and professionalism," Anderson said. "He took an already great program and found innovative ways to improve it. His enthusiasm, expertise and work ethic help make the 188th's Honor Guard one of the best in the National Guard. He's definitely deserving of this award and the entire 188th family is very proud of him."

Mays, who has been a Guardsman in the 188th for 14 years, joined the unit's Honor Guard nine years ago before taking the reins of the program in 2008 just prior to the 188th's first Unit Compliance Inspection (UCI) in more than 15 years.

"From work performance to appearance, he defines professional," said Capt. Matt Holguin, 188th Honor Guard OIC. "He worked diligently to ensure the program was ready for the UCI. He received excellent comments from the Inspector General's team and contributed to the wing receiving a rating of 'Excellent' on the UCI."

Holguin said Mays helped boost Honor Guard morale by generating certificates of recognition. Mays also developed standardized detail checklists, training programs and weapons inspection procedures to ensure proper accountability and maintenance cycles. Holguin said Mays led 15 details and 26 training sessions during the award period.

"He also spearheaded the first-ever Memorandum of Understanding with the active duty Honor Guard at Little Rock Air Force Base," Holguin said. "He personally staffs all details, ensuring all members are trained, equipped and ready for each individual detail. His all-out effort resulted in zero mistakes, zero no shows, and no negative comments for any detail. He is definitely the backbone of the team."

This year has been filled with laurels for Mays. He was named the AFA's Arkansas Air National Guardsman of the Year. Mays also won the Noncommissioned Officers Association Award and the Arkansas Army National Guard State Command Sergeant Major's Award.