AIA names 'Best of the Best' during Sensor Olympics

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kristine Dreyer
  • Air Intelligence Agency Public Affairs
SAN ANTONIO (AFPN) --  The Air Intelligence Agency's 27th annual Sensor Olympics was held at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, Oct. 19.

During the banquet, the top three enlisted technicians from each of the 23 career fields within AIA were awarded gold, silver and bronze medals.

"Each year, we come together as an organization to recognize the enlisted population within AIA," said Chief Master Sgt. Ted Colquhoun, AIA command chief and Sensor Olympics Council chairman. "Typically our ability to recognize our Intelligence Airmen's achievements is limited due to security, but this program gives us a chance to openly recognize and reward our enlisted technicians for their hard work and the technical expertise they display throughout the year."

The program, originally called COMFY OLYMPICS, began in 1979 by Maj. Gen. Doyle Larson, former Electronic Security Command commander. While the program's name has changed over the years to reflect mission and organizational changes, the selection process has remained the same.

The competition begins at the unit level with more than 8,000 Airmen. After completing comprehensive exams written by subject matter experts from each career field, 69 finalists from AIA units all over the world, three from each specialty, are chosen to compete for gold.

"This multi-layered testing is intended to challenge technicians down to the unit level and increase their drive to improve their technical skills," said Master Sgt. John Knotts, Sensor Olympics Council president.

During Sensor Olympic week at Lackland, the finalists interface with AIA leaders including their career field functional managers, command chief master sergeants and AIA superintendents. They also attend AIA mission briefs, tour San Antonio and visit Lackland's training facilities.

"This gives each participant an inside look into how (he or she) contribute(s) to the AIA mission and where (his or her) career field is headed operationally," said Master Sgt. Ann Schulhofer, Sensor Olympics Council vice president.

Although the mission of AIA may emphasize intelligence operations, this competition also spotlights the mission partner career fields that also play an important role in AIA.

"As a material manager, being included in the competition really makes me feel a part of the AIA family," said Tech. Sgt. George McFarland, material management gold medalist from the 373rd Support Squadron, Misawa Air Base, Japan.

Each year, more than 300 AIA members attend the banquet, so in addition to recognizing their job knowledge, Sensor Olympics also motivates participants to continue to excel in their career field by witnessing first-hand the support by leaders they may not meet face-to-face everyday because of their geographically separate locations.

"It's satisfying to know that I am proficient in my job," said Staff Sgt. Jason Fosse, operations intelligence silver medalist from the 36th Intelligence Squadron at Langley AFB, Va. "Being supported by my leadership during this event reinforces how necessary it is for me to continue to increase my job knowledge and expertise."