Hard work, dedication gets honor guard NCOIC ACC-level award

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Heather Stanton
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  The base honor guard NCOIC here took home a command-level award from the Air Combat Command 2010 Outstanding Airmen of the Year banquet in La Vista, Neb., April 21.

Tech. Sgt. Stacey Hines, a native of Zanesville, Ohio, received the Honor Guard Program Manager of the Year award for her work with more than 100 Airmen in one of the most visible career fields in the Air Force.

Capt. Brian Batson, Sergeant Hines' immediate supervisor, believes she won the award because of her attention to detail when it comes to her duties.

"All the candidates were very worthy of recognition," he said. "However, it is Sergeant Hines' passion and work ethic that is a notch above the rest. She lives and breathes honor guard."

Since taking over as Seymour Johnson's honor guard program manager in June 2009, Sergeant Hines has perfected the quality of the program by creating a one-of-a-kind checklist to ensure teams perform details flawlessly. She also incorporated the first-ever fulltime trainer and assistant NCOIC position which improved the Airmen's detail knowledge and precision during a ceremony.

Another program enhancement masterminded by Sergeant Hines was the development of relationships with funeral directors she works with on a daily basis, who she briefed on military entitlement updates guaranteeing the nation's heroes receive the proper respects for their sacrifice.

Though Seymour Johnson's honor guard team is responsible for details in 90 percent of North Carolina, and parts of Virginia and West Virginia, Sergeant Hines' duties span farther than scheduling and coordinating funerals, ceremonies and training.

"I work with the Airmen, mentoring them on personal issues to ensure they stay on the right path," Sergeant Hines said. "I don't think of this as just an honor guard job. I think of it as 'What can I do for these Airmen?' They are the best of the best on our base and if I can get them for three months (at a time) and make these good Airmen great Airmen, then the Air Force is going to be a better place when they go back to their duty sections."

Part of her mentorship includes setting up four team building seminars to motivate the Airmen to be superior performers.

Even being a single parent does not yield her dedication. She often works long hours to ensure the job gets done.

"To run a successful honor guard program takes a lot of hard work, dedication and selflessness," Sergeant Hines said. "You've got to be very selfless to do this job because you have to put the Airmen first, take yourself out of the picture and do what is right for them. You also have to be humble. We bury the men and women who gave us the right to wear our uniform and who paved the path for us to do what we do. If it wasn't for them, we wouldn't be where we are today."

Sergeant Hines was one of 29 nominees in attendance at the banquet who represented the U.S. Air Forces Central Command, U.S. Air Force Air Warfare Center, Headquarters ACC staff, and the 1st, 9th and 12th Numbered Air Forces. She was the 9th AF honor guard program manager nominee and, on top of her written award package submitted earlier this year, had to stand in front of a board of chief master sergeants and complete an on-camera interview before being chosen above three others as the award winner.

"I am extremely honored and humbled to bring such an award back to Seymour Johnson," she said. "It's not every day something like this happens and I have to thank all the people who helped me get here. I would never have been able to win such an award if it wasn't for the great leaders I've learned from and the Airmen I work for."

Sergeant Hines is now ACC's nominee for the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Honor Guard Program Manager of the Year award, which will be presented during the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year banquet later this year.