Master Sergeant Eric Hanson

Master Sgt Eric Hanson, security supervisor for the 16th Special Operations Wing, exemplifies what a "Quiet Professional" is all about. "He has got the right priorities: mission, troops and the community," said his squadron commander. He was hand-picked to conduct site surveys of classified locations to be used in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Yet, his commander says, "He will not get the glory that is usually associated when bullets start flying . . . and he will never complain about it." From leading U.S. Special Operations Command teams on sensitive missions to developing plans that protect and guard Hurlburt Field during events and tropical storms, MSgt Hanson is the 'go-to-guy', says one of his fellow NCOs.

As his unit's temporary first sergeant, "MSgt Hanson oversees 250-personnel that includes 80 Army National Guard troops, who he makes feel right at home," says one colleague. While this 'top cop' oversees the daily security operations for the Air Force Special Operations Command, he does not lose sight of the importance of each troop and their family members under his command. Another unit officer stated, "At work, he just does it all and still manages to watch over this unit, his extended family." When he is not deployed, MSgt Hanson makes a positive impact on the Hurlburt Field community as the chairman of the local Combined Federal Campaign, as a youth basketball and bowling coach, and he organizes appreciation dinners for families of airmen still deployed to Iraq. One deployed airman's spouse stated, "Most folks with 20+ years look to retire, but MSgt Hanson is here taking care of business – he's taking care of us." As his commander says, "In every way, MSgt Eric Hanson is an airman's airman."

Senior Master Sergeant Cedric Council

RANDOLPH AFB, Texas - Senior Master Sergeant Cedric M. Council exemplifies the ideal of the unsung "everyday hero," whose integrity, service and commitment to his fellow airmen and community define his professional and personal activities. "He is the kind of individual who strives to give the best of himself for his job, his co-workers, and his community. He doesn't look for any gain, he only looks at what he can give … and it's always his best," said a fellow NCO.

SMSgt Council is an aircraft/trainer maintenance inspection manager in the Air Education and Training Command's inspector general's office at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. It is a challenging job, but he has earned the respect of those around him as he strives to keep a safe working and training environment for airmen. "He will not hesitate to make the hard call during an inspection, but his heart is with the unit and people … He wants them to do well," said a supervisor.

He has conducted 12 command inspections, which detected 150 deficiencies affecting 120,000 sorties. He led the redesign of a hazardous material storage site and 320 hazardous items are now properly controlled. His recommendations improved safety for over 300 personnel and drastically reduced environmental contamination. SMSgt Council fine-tuned basic military training programs that ensured quality training for over 30,000 recruits annually. "We trust his judgment and character without reservation," a colleague said.

SMSgt Council knows that the mission comes first, said one airman, but "he never forgets that people are the ones performing that mission." He has earned a reputation as a mentor to junior airmen and as an honest and caring senior noncommissioned officer who provides useful, constructive feedback to both his troops and his supervisors. "I am inspired by Cedric's desire to make every airman he comes in contact with better," said his division chief. "He is the ultimate role model for airmen," said another NCO.

On base, SMSgt Council raised over $7,000 to support unit social and holiday functions and put together a team to support the base's Junior Enlisted Appreciation Day activities. "He is always thinking about his troops," said a fellow inspector. SMSgt Council also is well-known outside the base gates because he spends much of his free time volunteering in the San Antonio community.

As a member of the Texas Youth Commission, SMSgt Council mentors incarcerated youth to help them transition back into mainstream society. For nearly a dozen years, he has worked with a group to clean up a neglected community cemetery. He sponsored a clothing drive for needy families. He works with a program that provides meals to the homeless. He has raised more than $5,000 to provide scholarships and books for schools in San Antonio. He regularly visits San Antonio nursing homes where he also organizes birthday parties for the residents. He volunteers his time to mentor youth and work in community youth programs. These are just a few examples of the myriad of volunteer charitable activities undertaken by SMSgt Council.

According to his division chief, SMSgt Council's community activities have improved relations between the base and its civilian neighbors. The consensus of his colleagues is that SMSgt Council embodies the Air Force's core values and is a role model for young airmen and officers alike. He is the image of 'Mr. Air Force,' said a senior NCO, noting that SMSgt Council's photo was used in a military study guide of an example of how one should look in uniform. He is dependable, courteous, disciplined, motivated and humble, his colleagues said.

"He is professional with unquestionable technical expertise and represents Air Education and Training Command and our Air Force extremely well," said a fellow senior NCO. "Integrity is SMSgt Cedric M. Council's rule of engagement, service before self is his lifestyle and excellence in all we do is his work ethic. Not sure I can say more than that."

IT1 Luisa Santana

EN1 Robert Caldwell

MA1 Samuel Salvero

Aviation Support Equipment Technician 1st Class Mark Farley

Petty Officer 1st Class Mark Farley excels at whatever he does, from striving for quality control at his naval station to dedicating his free time to coordinate community activities. Petty Officer Farley is a superb manager with the proven ability to successfully supervise the functions and activities of others while surpassing command objectives and ensuring optimum operational readiness. As the naval station's aviation intermediate maintenance unit's production control leading petty officer, Petty Officer Farley was the driving force behind the processing of 15,376 items over the last year, including 244 critical F/A-18 engines and modules. That number exceeded Commander, Fleet Air Mediterranean's goals by 22 percent. His senior NCO said, "during my 20+ years of experience and wide range of duties, I've never met or known anyone that has performed at his level in so many facets. He is the type of sailor our Navy needs to lead us through the 21st century." Petty Officer Farley's abilities led to his nomination for the 2002 CINCNAVEUR Leadership Award for outstanding leadership and NAVSTA Rota's Senior Sailor of the Year Award.

"Not only is he superbly performing the duties normally assigned to a higher rank, but he has been a dynamic and active contributor in all aspects of the local community, off and on base," says his supervisor. "Bottom line…if I wasn't a direct witness, I wouldn't believe anyone could sustain his performance." Petty Officer Farley gets actively involved with his local community. The annual inter-cultural celebration involving over six thousand US and Spanish nationals has been a success during his tour at Rota because of the many hours he dedicates to the details. Other times of the year his volunteer hours are devoted to youth sports, a local orphanage and elementary school. Petty Officer Farley is a fine example of the superior quality of the men and woman serving in today's Navy.

Machinist Mate 2nd Class Christian Garcia

When most people are sleeping, Petty Officer 2nd Class Christian Garcia is working to help others. He woke up at 4 a.m., rode his bicycle 10 miles (he was without a car), to voluntarily run a physical training program for his command to bring his shipmates within Navy physical fitness standards. And his colleagues say he works late hours and performs to the highest standards. Petty Officer Garcia "has been an inspiration to all who work with him, his pride in the uniform and professionalism in all areas makes him a pleasure to be around," according to one of his shipmates. Petty Officer Garcia has consistently ranked as one of the top three second-class petty officers in his command and has held several top collateral duties normally assigned to first-class petty officers. He graduated from the Navy's scuba diver school and is one of only three people in the entire command who are Navy divers. As a quality assurance inspector, he is ahead of nearly twenty more senior personnel. "He won the 2002 Fourth Quarter Submarine Squadron Seven junior mechanic award out of a possible 700 eligible sailors from seven subs in the squadron – that's GREAT stuff," said his former supervisor. He has volunteered to run the command's Navy relief fund drive and Combined Federal Campaign fund drive. On top of all of that, although he's a young sailor with five years experience, he still saves enough money to send some home to his sister to help her with school expenses.

"For a single guy who could be running around with other guys, he chooses to be mature and volunteer to help others. That's why he is assigned responsibilities associated with higher ranks," his supervisor wrote. "The unselfishness involved in the caring of and concern for others is not a part of his job, yet he does it when his regular job keeps him busy enough during a normal day." By showing his extraordinary commitment and leadership, Petty Officer Garcia sets an example for sailors everywhere.

Mess Specialist 1st Class Steven Cheaney

GULFPORT, Mississippi - If you're ever stuck in the desert, you'd better hope you're near Petty Officer 1st Class Steven C. Cheaney. While serving as a 2nd Class Petty Officer mess cook for Naval Mobile Construction Battalion-74 (Seabees) attached to the 3rd Marine Air Wing in Kuwait, Petty Officer Cheaney worked every angle to get decent chow to the Seabees as they built a Marine air base. It meant not being satisfied with getting the troops three squares a day but getting the best meals available.

While the Air Force had an excellent dining facility nearby, the Seabees seldom saw the inside of it – they ate all meals at the project site. Petty Officer Cheaney swapped out MREs for hot meals and tirelessly worked the Air Force system to get his Seabees hot chocolate, fresh fruit, cookies, bottled fruit drinks and midnight rations.

The efforts of Petty Officer Cheaney were crucial for a battalion that worked arduous 14- to 16-hour days in the hot desert sun and nights in the freezing, stiff desert wind, building a 21-acre parking apron for Marine F/A-18 Hornets to conduct close-air support missions for Operation Iraqi Freedom. The project was the largest battalion undertaking in three decades, and the Seabees did it in a remarkable three months. "The only thing they had to look forward to each day were their meals, and he did whatever it took to support the troops and make their lives better," said one officer. And it was more than just the good chow, it was his example, the way he cared which lifted morale.

According to his executive officer, "Petty Officer Cheaney's unrelenting positive attitude and tireless efforts working longer hours than those on the project site, from the first of the morning to the last at night, is what got the guys through the job." His commanding officer said, "If one agrees with Gen. Colin Powell's lesson 12 from his Leadership Primer that 'Perpetual optimism is a force-multiplier,' then Petty Officer Cheaney is the best force-multiplier I've got. All too often the magnificent and dedicated contributions of the support positions behind the scenes are overlooked. Petty Officer Cheaney was every bit as important to the success of this project as was my most knowledgeable builder." That's quite a compliment when you are in a 670 troop-sized construction unit.

From November through January, the battalion worked every day – taking only Christmas Day off – and delivered the project on schedule. After completing the work, the battalion relocated to a Tactical Assembly Area, where the Seabees built Camp 93 while living in challenging field conditions. At the time, the host nation was contracted to provide meal services, but those services were delayed due to the rapid infusion of troops into Kuwait. Again stepping up to the role of a more senior NCO, Petty Officer Cheaney delivered more than just MREs, securing the Seabees breakfast cereal and pastries, milk, yogurt, fresh fruit, juices, peanut butter and jelly and other special items not readily available.

"It's often the simple things that can make a world of difference in a sailor's day," said one officer. "In that harsh environment, he kept our spirit up and supported us in very way. He was an inspiration," said one Seabee. Navy Seabees and others involved in logistical and support roles often go without accolades. Even among the Seabees, equipment operators, engineers and steelworkers usually get the recognition. And the role of a Navy cook is often a particularly thankless job. "But here you have a Navy Cook who loves his job of taking care of teammates, and whose dedication and attitude made a huge impact and difference," said his executive officer.

Petty Officer 1st Class Steven C. Cheaney, the man who fed the troops and buoyed their spirits during a tough time in the desert, is a true unsung hero behind our unsung heroes.

Corporal Inkyung McMillian

Corporal Joel Leegwater