The Air Force is made up of more than 307,000 Airmen. Of those Airmen, 12 were selected as the Air Force Association’s Outstanding Airmen. One of those is stationed at the 56th Aerospace Medicine Squadron.
Senior Airman Allen Cherry, 56th AMDS public health technician, was selected as the Air Force Medical Service 2014 Public Health Airman of the Year while serving in the deployment medicine section at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
The OAY award recognizes 12 outstanding enlisted personnel for superior leadership, job performance, community involvement and personal achievements. The chief master sgt. of the Air Force, a general officer and selected MAJCOM command chiefs form the selection board. The Air Force chief of staff reviews the selections. The 12 outstanding Airmen are awarded the Outstanding Airman ribbon with the bronze service star device. They also serve on the Air Force Enlisted Council for one year.
“I joined the Air Force because of my father who served 26 years in the Air Force, and I always knew I wanted to give back to the military for giving me so much including the chance to go to school and all the free services it offers,” Cherry said. “Finding out I had won the award was very humbling, and I was proud of the team that helped set me up for success. First and foremost I did the best I could at my job.”
Cherry validated more than 3,000 medical requirements for 406 deployers with zero discrepancies in support of the Ebola crisis in Africa. Cherry led the reintegration of 360 redeployers, coordinating a multiagency process into a one-stop shop that saved 2,000 man hours and returned Airmen to their families sooner while upholding all Defense Department medical requirements. He accomplished these things while serving as a member of the Ramstein Air Base Honor Guard.
Cherry works on hearing conservation, which includes personal protective equipment and pregnancy profiles. Along with his job and honor guard, Cherry has been a part of Rising Four in Ramstein, which is similar to the LEAD Council here at Luke.
Cherry moved to Luke in August 2015, where he met his supervisor, who was already familiar with Cherry’s work ethic.
“I met him when I was on a temporary duty assignment to cross train into public health,” said Staff Sgt. Joseph Treharne, 56th AMDS occupational health NCO in charge. “I knew right away he was going to be a stellar Airman. He stood out from the rest of the class. He won sharp Airman awards and was a distinguished graduate in technical school.”
In addition to the many accomplishments in his career, Cherry also earned his Community College of the Air Force degree in public health technology, an associate degree in kinesiology at St. Philip’s College, Texas, a bachelor’s degree in exercise sports and science at Texas State University, and is on his way to meet his goal of earning a master’s degree.
“I’ve never met anyone with such a hard-work ethic,” Treharne said. “It’s truly a privilege to be able to work with and supervise him.”