Moody troop earns ACC Airman of Year

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman S.I. Fielder
  • 347th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. (ACCNS) --  An Airman assigned to the 820th Security Forces Group here recently received the Air Combat Command’s Airman of the Year award.

According to Air Force officials, Senior Airman Polly-Jan Bobseine, a security forces journeyman with the 823rd Security Forces Squadron, was chosen for the award based on her hard-working attitude and duties as a fire-team member.

“I think a lot of times people plan everything way too much,” said Airman Bobseine, a Cattaraugus, N.Y. native. “I just go with the flow. Not to say when opportunities arise, I don’t go for them. It takes determination and hard work; I think persistence and attitude also helped me out.”

The small-town Airman’s determination is evident through other awards she recently received. She won Team Moody Airman of the Year; ACC’s Outstanding Security Forces Flight Level Airman of 2005; 9th Air Force Airman of the Year; Air Force Sergeants Association Division 4 First Term Airman of the Year; Senior Airman Below-the-Zone; and the U.S. Army’s 1st Infantry Division combat patch.

“All these awards seem unreal at times, I mean I’m just little Polly,” she said. “But, it’s still the same at work; I’m still me. I try not to focus too much on the awards. It’s important and I feel honored, but I just try to press on.”

Airman Bobseine continued to “press on” during Operation Desert Safeside, an operation paving the way for future Airmen to become “combat warriors.” It was the first time since 1969 Airmen successfully conducted offensive ground campaigns, said Master Sgt. Rodney Holland, 823rd SFS first sergeant.

“The success of the operation will help shape the future of the Air Force’s security forces,” he said.

Airman Bobseine said winning the awards had a lot to do with the opportunities the 820th SFG offers Airmen.

“A lot of the Airmen in my squadron have done the same things I have,” she said. “Our senior leadership picks you for the award if you’re motivated. When we’re deployed, it’s a team effort.”

While deployed to Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq, she was one of 56 chosen out of 330 Airmen to conduct off-base patrol operations. Her team carried out more than 100 combat patrols within a 63-mile radius helping to dominate the terrain of the Air Force zone.

“It’s just neat to deploy,” said Airman Bobseine, who was deployed 187 days during 2005. “It’s not that I want to stay over there forever - it’s always great to come home - but it’s a great experience.”

During her deployments, she also helped to establish traffic control points during the 2005 Iraqi elections. While on patrol, she helped discover a large munitions cache and provided security while Explosive Ordnance Device Airmen diffused the find.

“You have to be in it for the long run,” said the Airman, who has more than 30 flight hours logged toward her private pilot’s license. “I have seen a lot of people who start out on fire and then burn themselves out.”

One of Airman Bobseine’s goals upon entering the Air Force was to become airborne qualified. Not only did she attend the U.S. Army Airborne School, she also attended the Air Force’s Special Operations School’s Sub-Saharan Africa Orientation Course, the U.S. Army Combat Life Saver course and the Close Precision Engagement Course.

“My whole thing is you have to be enthusiastic and stick with it, but you have to pace yourself,” said the athlete who has also competed in numerous triathlons, the Easter Day Half-Marathon in New York City and is also an avid swimmer.

During her deployments, Airman Bobseine also completed 18 college credits hours toward her Community College of the Air Force degree through College Level Examination Program. Although she has no specific Air Force goal, she said she strives to do her best.

“In Kirkuk, it was a really good opportunity to take the tests because they had a great facility there,” she said. “Deployments can be busy, but you can make time.”

Airman Bobseine also made time for Operation Crayon that delivered toys and clothing to local Iraqi villages, and she volunteered more than 50 hours of patient care at the Theater and Combat Surgical Hospitals at Balad Air Base.

“I worked all night, and then I couldn’t go to sleep,” she said. “So, I would go over to the hospital and sit with people.”

Sergeant Holland said the Airman with a “can-do” attitude does things because she wants to, not because she’s looking for acknowledgement. In fact, she would prefer to stay out of the limelight.

“She is both a team player and individualist,” he said. “She is always trying to find ways to help others, yet challenge herself. I don’t think she stands out above the rest, I think she stands out from the rest.”