JBER Public Affairs
7/17/2013 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- "Your life is our business/Last to let you down," is the motto by which every Airman in Aircrew Flight Equipment lives. Their job is to keep pilots supplied and ready for each mission.
The AFE award is an annual Air Force-level award program, recognizing Airmen who achieve outstanding accomplishments in the career field. The nominations start at the base level and end at the Pentagon, where the AFE functional manager decides a winner.
Personnel in AFE are responsible for keeping pilots alive when things happen unexpectedly. Their job requires constant attention to detail and a commitment to the safety of the aircrew they support.
Senior Airman Amanda Stinnett, 3rd Operation Support Squadron AFE journeyman, said she received an unexpected surprise while deployed to Manas, Kyrgyzstan. While browsing Facebook, Stinnett was overcome by praises from family, friends and coworkers.
Stinnett, 24, was pleased and surprised to discover she had won the AFE award for 2012.
She joined the Air Force in January 2011 to fulfill her interest in the military. She said travel and education benefits also inspired her decision.
Coworkers describe her as one of the best Airmen on their team and appreciate her can-do attitude.
"Senior Airman Stinnett is a strong advocate of giving back to the community and furthering her personal and professional goals," said Tech. Sgt. Mark Natividad, former 3rd OSS noncommissioned officer in charge of AFE.
As an AFE technician, Stinnett ensures survival kits, parachutes and all gear pilots need to fly is packed and ready to go in a timely manner.
"My father is a pilot so it really hits home," said the Tulsa, Okla. native.
AFE technicians are expected to be knowledgeable on every piece of equipment needed in specific models of aircraft in which they operate. Each airplane may need one or more specific type of parachute or survival kit, which AFE technicians must know and be familiar with.
This equipment is used by various organizations on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson including the 525th, 90th and 302nd fighter squadrons, who use the parachutes and gear in their training and real-world operations.
Being promoted below the zone in 2011 and finishing her upgrade training three months ahead of schedule shows how dedicated Stinnett is with her duties as an Airman and as an AFE technician.
Stinnett actively volunteers her time to the Alaska community by participating in many 5K runs and at the Anchorage Zoo.
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