Nellis trio named best in entire Air Combat Command

Dick Benoit

Thursday, May 24, 2001 | 8:24 a.m.

Two enlisted women at Nellis Air Force Base, a construction unit first sergeant and a medical group senior NCO, have been named Best in Air Combat Command along with a lieutenant belonging to the base weather station.

Senior Master Sgt. Kelly Martin, the first sergeant for the Red Horse Squadron, was named the command's First Sergeant of the Year. Master Sgt. Karen McCoy of the 99th Medical Group was named the command's Senior NCO of the Year and 2nd Lt. Jerome Hernandez of the 57th Operations Squadron Weather Flight was named the ACC Outstanding Weather Company Grade Officer of the Year.

Safeguarding strategic weapons

Navy officials at Pacific Strategic Weapons Facility at Bangor, Wash., report that Marine Lance Cpl. Eric Butler of Las Vegas is playing a crucial role in safeguarding weapons carried by the U.S. Navy's Trident submarine fleet. Butler is the son of Michael and Susan Butler of Las Vegas

He is one of more than 400 sailors, Marines and civilian specialists who receive, inspect, store, assemble, load and off-load the missiles that arm the Navy's Trident aubmarines during the relatively short times the subs are in port.

Tridents have two complete crews: a "gold" and "blue" crew. While one crew is manning the submarine at sea, the other trains in port, enabling the submarine to be almost continually on patrol.

Butler says his primary job is to deter any threat to the vessels while in port or the weapons maintained and stored at the facility prior to being loaded onto the subs. He has been in the Marine Corps for two years.

In brief

During the training, the soldiers received instruction and practice in drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid, and Army history and traditions.

Perez was also trained to prepare, install and prime firing systems for demolition and explosives and recognize and neutralize land mines, firing devices and booby traps.