Remotely piloted aircraft sensor operators named Air Force Team of the Year

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WASHINGTON (AFNS) --  Air Force officials and Air Force Association representatives have named Air Force remotely piloted aircraft sensor operators as the 2010 Team of the Year.

Each year, AFA officials, working with major command-level command chief master sergeants and the Office of the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, select a specific Air Force career field for this recognition. The individual members selected to represent the chosen career field are professionals who clearly display superior technical expertise, attract the praise of their superiors and provide leadership and inspiration to others.

The following individuals are team members selected to represent the RPA sensor operator career field for this year's award:

Master Sgt. John Allen, 3rd Special Operations Squadron, Cannon Air Force Base, N.M.
Master Sgt. Richard Jones, 78th Reconnaissance Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
Tech. Sgt. Ryan Carabajal, 111th RS, Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base, Houston, Texas
Senior Airman Abby Korovich, 17th RS, Creech AFB, Nev.
Senior Airman Jon Turney, 29th Attack Squadron, Holloman AFB, N.M.

"Remotely piloted aircraft sensor operators are providing combatant commanders and joint and coalition troops unmatched capability," said Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy. "Their skills are crucial to winning the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Every member of the RPA sensor operator team should be proud of this award."

Five Airmen are selected each year to represent their profession in the presentation ceremony in Washington, D.C. While there, the Airmen tour the Capitol and other sites, meet senior Air Force and congressional leaders and accept awards on behalf of their career field at a ceremony hosted by the AFA. This year's ceremony is scheduled for April 19.

In the recent past, the following career fields also have been recognized as the team of the year: explosive ordnance disposal, Air Force Office of Special Investigations, expeditionary medics, services, vehicle operators and command and control.

Team of the Year short biographies:

Master Sgt. John L. Allen is assigned to the 3rd Special Operations Squadron, Cannon Air Force Base, N.M.  Sergeant Allen expertly flew 212 hours in support of combatant commanders.  In this capacity, he was instrumental in eliminating 18 enemy combatants, the capture of 12 high-value individuals and the detention of 41 Al-Qaida forces.

Tech. Sgt. Ryan K. Carabajal is assigned to the 111th Reconnaissance Squadron, Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base, Houston, Texas. He expertly coordinated more than 150 combat sorties, accumulating over 300 combat hours in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. Sergeant Carabajal provided 85 hours of full motion video to ground commanders.

Master Sgt. Richard E. Jones is assigned to the 78th RS, Nellis AFB, Nev.  Sergeant Jones expertly led a team of 93 highly skilled sensor operators through daily combat operations in the Air Force's first weaponized and only dual-capable remotely piloted aircraft squadron.

Senior Airman Abby L. Korovich is assigned to the 17th RS, Creech AFB, Nev.  Airman Korovich flew 230 combat-support sorties, amassing 652 hours of armed reconnaissance, prosecuting 921 targets while relentlessly pursuing Al-Qaeda and Taliban forces.

Senior Airman Jon B. Turney is assigned to the 29th Attack Squadron, Holloman AFB, N.M.  Airman Turney flew 364 instructional hours during formal training unit surge operations, resulting in 92 qualified MQ-9 Reaper sensor operators ready to join overseas contingency operations and support the stand-up of additional MQ-9 combat air patrols.