Training center recipient of total force award

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Mike R. Smith
  • I.G. Brown Training and Education Center
The Air National Guard’s I.G. Brown Training and Education Center on McGhee Tyson Air Guard Base in East Tennessee was honored May 11 by the state-level Air Force Association with its Total Force Team Award, including a certificate presented during the organization's commander-call staff meeting.

For the annual award, AFA officials selected “one individual or unit/organization for superior support to the Total Air Force and its missions, to include active duty, Guard, and Reserve."

TEC earned the award for its accomplishments in professional military education as well as professional continuing education during 2017.

"TEC has supported the total force for so long with such success, it can be easy to take for granted how well we bring active, Guard, Reserve and civilians together to train and educate on campus,” said Col. Kerry Lovely, TEC commander. “This award is great, in that it validates that TEC mindset."

Among the thousands of enlisted professional military education graduates at TEC last year, 37 percent were from the regular Air Force, the Reserve, the Coast Guard, or the international ranks.

TEC’s total force staff includes roughly 31 percent assigned from the regular Air Force, not including its federal civilians and a Reserve Command Airman. The remaining Airmen include Air Guard members on Title-10, federal active duty status from the states and territories. Other base-support personnel consists of Tennessee National Guard and state employees.

The Air Force Association is a non-federal entity that generates education, advocacy, and support for the U.S. Air Force. Among its 200 national chapters, Tennessee falls under AFA’s South Central Region.