USTRANSCOM Commander Honors Two, Defines Mission

Camp Arifjan, KUWAIT (USTCNS) –-- The commander of U.S. Transportation Command presented major awards to two Camp Arifjan men recently -- not for their service in the military but for accomplishments as civilian employees.

Civilian of the Year, Matthew Stalker and Tom Schwind, Civilian of the Quarter recipients received their awards from USTRANSCOM Commander Gen. Norton A. Schwartz Jan. 24 during a ceremony attended by both uniformed troops and civilian employees.

Matthew Stacker, St. Louis, Mo., received the USTRANSCOM Civilian of the Year, Category III, award for 2005. The award recognizes Stacker, a transportation specialist, as a driving force within the Requirements Division, Operations Directorate at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. Schwartz acknowledged Stacker’s dedication and strategic and innovative planning back home as well as his performance in the war zone mission he serves in Kuwait.

“I don’t think it’s an accident that we have two award winners here (in Kuwait),” said Schwartz.

Currently, Stacker is chief of requirements for the U.S. Central Command Deployment and Distribution Operations Center at Camp Arifjan.

Tom Schwind was awarded the Civilian of Quarter, Category II, award for the October through December term. The Mascoutah, Ill., native was recognized for his exceptional work and achievements while working in Specially Arranged Airlift Missions at USTRANSCOM.

Stacker and Schwind work at the same command, do similar work and have both served in the military. Stacker is a Major in the Army Reserve and Schwind retired from the Army four years ago as a Master Sgt.

During brief acceptance speeches, it was obvious that Stacker and Schwind, though appreciative, did not expect the awards. To them, their jobs are all about service members and missions. That is why they’re serving in Kuwait, Stacker and Schwind explained.

“Basically, I volunteered to come over here so that a Soldier back home doesn’t have to,” said Schwind.

Though they both work at USTRANSCOM headquarters near Schwartz, the awardees were impressed by the general’s visit, speech, and presentation.

”It was good to hear him talk about work and the mission here and what we are doing as a complete entity,” explained Stacker. “Especially to hear his thoughts on the CDDOC, the special staff, and where he sees us going in the future.”

The CDDOC operations include planning, validating and prioritizing flights within theater which not only help service members travel between Kuwait and Iraq but deliver supplies.

Schwartz shook their hands as the ceremony closed and made sure to reiterate one thing: not only does the Transportation Command encompass the active, guard and reserve components of the military but civilian workers as well, he said.

“Just because you’re wearing a uniform doesn’t mean that you are the only one who plays,” echoed Schwind.

As guests departed and returned to work, so did Stacker and Schwind. They just received major awards, but the mission goes on. As long as there are service members to move and supplies to deliver, the two will continue their award-winning service-- with or without rank on their collars.