Grand Forks CGOA recognized as best in Air Force

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Rachel Martinez
  • 319th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. (AFNS) --  The Grand Forks Air Force Base Company Grade Officer Association was selected as the CGO Council of the Year, May 5, during the CGOA Professional Development Conference in San Francisco.

The Grand Forks AFB CGOA competed against more than 70 other CGOA councils from around the Air Force to win the award.

"I'm proud that as one of the smallest active-duty bases in the Air Force, our CGOs were able to carry this United States Air Force-level annual award," said Capt. Ian Holzhauer, 319th Air Refueling Wing judge advocate and president of the CGOA.

CGOA members raised more than $19,000 during the award year for various causes and also volunteered at the Northlands Rescue Mission, ensuring hundreds were fed. They helped serve Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve dinners to the homeless as well.

"We had, and continue to have, some great leadership and many people stepped up when it really mattered to take on big tasks," said Capt. Anna Rehder, a 319th ARW legal officer and member of the CGOA.

Not only were CGOA members active in the local community, they were active in the aspiring military community too. CGOA representatives briefed approximately 90 Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets on the commitment to Air Force values and officership and helped recruit Airmen to score and judge a local Junior ROTC drill competition with nine high schools participating.

"It's nice to see that those efforts didn't go unnoticed," said Captain Rehder.

Over the next year, CGOA members plan on continuing their monthly trips to the Northlands Rescue Mission to provide meals to the homeless.

"We may not be large in numbers, but our CGOs led the way over this past year," said Captain Holzhauer.