Yokota FSS wins AF level award

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman David Owsianka
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
The 374th Force Support Squadron Civilian Personnel Section received the 2015 Air Force Civilian Personnel Program of the Year award at Yokota Air Base, Japan, July 15, 2016.

The CPS provides advisory services to commanders and senior leadership, U.S. and local national employees on civilian personnel management, adverse and disciplinary actions, handles all recruitment and advisory services for local national employees, and appropriated and non-appropriated fund employees assigned to Yokota.

"Any time someone wins an Air Force level award, it's important and something to be proud of," said Paul Keenan, 374 FSS director. "Our civilian employees are very dedicated and professional while working with thousands of customers every year, whether it's in person, by email or on the phone."

One aspect of the civilian personnel section that makes it unique is the ability of the team to successfully complete their mission while working in a diverse environment. The Civilian Personnel Program consists of 28 civilian employees; 22 are Japanese nationals and six are American.

The team received the award for a multitude of accomplishments, including: managing 2,300 U.S. and Japanese national employees worth $98 million to empower Yokota to complete its mission; erecting the first Japan medical residency program in the Air Force; partnering with Japanese national labor management office to expand the national recruitment pool which increased qualified applicants by 300 percent; organizing the local national length of service ceremony to help recognize 200 employees.

"It's great for our personnel to be recognized like this," said Renee Cooper, 374 FSS civilian personnel officer. "This shows that the civilian personnel office exceeded the standards and goals and it also shows our customers that Yokota has a first class team who works effortlessly to serve their customers the best way they can be serviced."

Keenan and Cooper are proud of the work the civilian personnel performed throughout 2015 which received them recognition at the Air Force level.

"It's exciting for the team to have won the award, they've earned it," Cooper said. "I recently joined this amazing team and I see it as an opportunity for me to grow as a person and leader. I have challenged them as a team to continue to do better."