First in, last out; Thunderbolt strikes again

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Holly Cook
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  The 435th Air Ground Operations Wing recently awarded Senior Airman Howard Daniels, 1st Combat Communications Squadron, the Thunderbolt award.

The award is given to Airmen within the 435th AGOW to recognize their superior achievements and work performance.

"I have never won an award of this magnitude before," said Daniels. "I'm excited about winning but I won the award for doing my everyday job so I intend to go about business as usual."

The 1st CBCS provides quick air traffic control abilities and communications throughout Africa, Europe and the Middle East.

"I feel inspired about my squadron's mission," said Daniels. "I enjoy the fact that I could go anywhere at any time. It's like being paid to travel and stock shelves at the same time!"

Daniels contributes to the mission by ensuring effective communications can reach any location in the world.

"Besides making sure communications work smoothly from my site to other locations, I do a little bit of everything that is needed to get the job done," said Daniels.

He also helps lead the way in his shop by being the go-to guy.

"He's a really hard worker," said Tech. Sgt. David Winkler, 1st CBCS NCOIC of transmission systems. "He's one of the guys who we got to first when we need something done. He's one of the more technically proficient Airmen here in our shop."

Daniels and 1st CBCS stand ready to deploy, operate and defend by being the first U.S. forces to hit the ground in deployed locations around the world.