Luke Airman wins Outstanding Airman of the Year 2015

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman James Hensley
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
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 Fighter Wing in the 56th Aerospace Medicine Squadron.

That Airman is Senior Airman Allen Cherry, 56th AMDS public health technician. Cherry 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.

This award recognizes 12 outstanding enlisted personnel for superior leadership, job performance, community involvement, and personal achievements. The Chief Master Sergeant 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 utilize free services it offers," Cherry said. "Finding out that I won the award was very humbling and I was proud of the team that helped set me up for success. I did a lot of things that contributed to the award but 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 DOD medical requirements. He did all of this and was 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, Cherry has been a part of base Honor Guard and Rising Four in Ramstein which is similar to the LEAD council here at Luke.

Cherry permanently changed stations 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 crosstrain 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 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 of Arts degree in kinesiology St. Philip's College, Texas, Bachelor of Science degree in exercise sports and science at Texas State University, and is on his way to meet his goal of earning his Master's degree in Business Administration.

"I've never met anyone with his level of work etiquette," Trehane said. "It's truly a privilege to be able to work with and supervise him."