Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Call for nominations: Portraits in Courage, Vol. IX

8/26/2014 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Nominations are being accepted and reviewed for inclusion in Portraits in Courage, Vol. IX, now through Oct. 13.

"For seven years now Portraits in Courage has told Airmen's stories of courage, valor and heroism," said Lt. Col. Paul Baldwin, the Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs Engagement Division deputy. "Airmen perform incredible feats every day and their stories exemplify our warrior ethos. This is an excellent way to share them."

Air Force officials said packages should focus on leadership, valor, courage, exemplary performance and commitment, or service above self in either a combat, combat support role or extraordinary event outside the normal call of duty.

Submissions should highlight the nominees' accomplishments during the previous two years and appeal to an audience of Airmen, their families and civilians.

The 300-500 word pieces, officials added, should be in narrative format and not only shed light on the Airman's career field, but relate a compelling story that reinforces the service's core values, culture and the Airman's Creed.

Packages must include the nominees' biography, SURF, nomination form and three supporting high-resolution digital photos (no less than 300 pixels per inch), featuring the Airman in action and donned in his or her Airman battle uniform, flight-duty uniform or equivalent tactical uniform.

Individuals wishing to submit a story should contact their base public affairs office and submit their nomination packages to their respective major command, two-letter or direct reporting unit, who can each send up to five packages.

Questions regarding submissions can be emailed to usaf.pentagon.saf-pa.mbx.portraits-in-courage@mail.mil.

To view previous editions of Portraits in Courage, click here.

The following is an example of a narrative submission:

"Veronica [Cox] is an intel Airman. She was acting as an intel analyst when the earthquake devastated Japan and all the aftermath that came. Because she spoke fluent Japanese she volunteered to help any way she could. So one night, sitting on a Pave Hawk helicopter doing damage assessment and intel collection from that helicopter they flew over an area of the local landscape where she saw a bunch of rocks arranged on the ground in the low light that looked like Japanese characters. So she asked the pilot to descend. She saw that no kidding, it was a sign calling for help. She directed him to go lower, and they found 200 isolated civilians. She hoisted down to the roof of the building they were in and when her feet hit the top of the roof she yelled in Japanese, "We're the U.S. Air Force and we're here to help." ...What an incredible story. She helped save 200 lives that night. And on nine more combat search and rescue missions she saved a lot more." - General Welsh, CSAF

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