Ohio National Guard News
3 Ohio National Guard members,
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (09/08/17) —They’ve constructed critical taxiways and parking aprons in the country of Chad, trained and mentored junior officers, and volunteered as coaches and tutors in their communities. This year, three members of the Ohio National Guard have earned national recognition for their achievements and dedicated service to their communities, state and nation. The National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) has selected the Ohio Air National Guard’s Capt. Jason Askins, of Toledo, Ohio, and the Ohio Army National Guard’s 1st Lt. David Croom, of Blacklick, Ohio, to receive the Theodore Roosevelt Leadership Award for Company Grade Officers. Chief Warrant Officer 3 Emmanuel “Manny” Kidd, of Cincinnati, will posthumously receive the Eagle Rising Award for outstanding Army National Guard warrant officers. The awards will be presented Sept. 10 during the 139th annual NGAUS General Conference & Exhibition in Louisville, Kentucky. “I’m proud of these Airmen and Soldiers for their accomplishments. Their dedication and leadership continually serves as an example of the how the men and women of the Ohio National Guard dedicate their careers to serving their communities and country,” said Maj. Gen. Mark E. Bartman, Ohio adjutant general. |
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Leadership ServiceThe Theodore Roosevelt Leadership Award was established to recognize the achievements and dedicated service of Army and Air National Guard junior officers who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and professionalism in their service to country and community. |
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Capt. Jason Askins, of Toledo, Ohio, is a civil engineer and serves as the environmental officer for the 400-member 200th RED HORSE (Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers) Squadron, based in Port Clinton, Ohio. From October 2015 to January 2017, Askins was the project engineer for the construction of a critical taxiway and parking apron at N’Djamena International Airport, Chad for the 2017 Joint Chiefs of Staff FLINTLOCK Exercise. Askins said he and his team of engineers knew success would be dependent on the relationships built in country, and they quickly established collaborative relationships with the Chadian government and military, U.S. embassy personnel, French military and local contractors. “Our innovative and collaborative project in Chad was very rewarding as we worked with the Chadian Air Force and Civilian Aviation Authority to tie in a taxiway and apron, which supported a multinational training coalition,” Askins said. |
First Lt. Daniel Croom, of Heath, Ohio, is the commander of the 324th Military Police Company, located in Middletown, Ohio, and the training officer for the 437th Military Police Battalion, headquartered at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus. “Serving in the Ohio National Guard has been one of the most challenging but rewarding experiences of my life,” Croom said. “Having the opportunity to learn from senior NCOs (noncommissioned officers), train junior officers, lead a military police company and teach training to an entire battalion is experience that is invaluable and an opportunity that I will never forget. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve my country and the state of Ohio.” |
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Dedicated ServiceThe Eagle Rising Award was established to recognize the achievements and dedicated service of Army National Guard warrant officers (up to the rank of chief warrant officer three) who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, technical skills and professionalism in their services to country and community. |
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Because of his superior professionalism and military bearing, the Ohio Army National Guard selected Kidd as its first full-time WOCS course manager and a TAC a position reserved for only the top warrant officers in the organization, according to his nomination packet. As a motivator and mentor of warrant officer candidates, his diligent efforts ensured the Ohio Army National Guard appointed highly trained and capable warrant officers, who continue to make a positive impact on the organization today. Kidd also proved his dedication and loyalty to the Army National Guard by driving 180 miles round trip daily to report for duty while also serving as the U.S. Army Warrant Officer Association chapter president for Ohio.
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In addition to the individual NGAUS awards, two Ohio Air National Guard units will be recognized for outstanding performance in mission support:
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More information about the 2017 NGAUS AWARDS. |
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Chief Warrant Officer 3 Emmanuel “Manny” Kidd, of Cincinnati, was a Warrant Officer Candidate School (WOCS) course manager and TAC (training, advising and counselling) officer for Headquarters, 2nd Battalion, 147th Regiment (Regional Training Institute), located in Columbus, at the time of his death from brain cancer in January 2015.