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Team Andersen Airman is “Gung-ho” award recipient

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Carissa Wolff
  • 36th Wing Public Affairs
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam --  One of Team Andersen's own was recently selected as the "Gung-ho" recipient, while attending the seven-week U.S. Marine Corps Staff Non-commissioned officer Advanced Course, which consisted of academics geared towards leadership, combat operations, offensive and defensive tactics, mentoring and participation in a physical training program.

Master Sgt. Brian Andersen, 36th Contingency Response Group was one of four people selected for awards given out during this training course, and the only U.S. Air Force member to attend the course.

"The U.S. Marine Corps runs the equivalent of our Airman Leadership School, NCO Academy and SNCO Academy simultaneously at their Camp Pendleton complex," said Sergeant Andersen. "I was the only sister-service representative outside of an NCO from Mongolia at this course so I was outnumbered approximately 300 to 1."

In order to attend this course one has to either be a Senior Master Sgt. Select or have a primary or alternate line number on the SNCO Academy list.

According to Sergeant Andersen the course consisted of four tests, several individual papers and presentations and also a battle lab that was geared towards expeditionary operations. The course was primarily geared towards leadership and conducting combat operations in the area of responsibility, he said.

"There are several things that make this course unique," Sergeant Andersen said. "Most Air Force members would be very out of place having never worked with the U.S. Marine Corps, but I have worked with Marines on several occasions and most recently as an AC-130U Gunship Loadmaster in Iraq. I was so impressed by their branch that volunteering for this course was a no brainer when my name came up on the primary list."

According to Sergeant Andersen the "Gung-ho" recipient was a person that displayed leadership, motivation, teamwork and esprit-de-corps.

"It comes as no surprise that Master Sgt. Andersen would receive this award," said Capt. Terry Harrington, 36th CRG chief of plans and programs. "Sergeant Andersen possesses an uncanny ability to motivate others with his excellent interpersonal skills and wide breadth of experience. Fortunately for the 36th CRG, the experience he has translates into credibility. He has proven time and time again to be the standard that many of us aspire to."