Outstanding Airman of the Year visits Warren

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jason Wiese
  • 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs
F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. --  
The Mighty Ninety got a chance to meet and speak with one of Air Force Global Strike Command's own who was selected to be one of the Air Force's 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year when she visited Aug. 21 and 22.

Senior Airman Bryenna Breckheimer, 2nd Medical Group at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., was named one of the 2012 OAY and has since toured the command to talk with Airmen about what made her successful and take note of key issues for the enlisted corps.

Every year, each major command in the Air Force names one OAY. Breckheimer said she was named AFGSC's OAY mostly because of her actions when she deployed to Afghanistan from Nov. 2010 to July 2011.

During the deployment, she was one of few Air Force medics who spent much of their time accompanying Army convoys traveling to and from forward operating bases near Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan.

"They would call you 'Doc,'" she said. "It was really an honor."

Like many combat veterans, Breckheimer shies away from discussing her combat experience, said Senior Master Sgt. Jennifer Blackmarr, 90th Security Support Squadron superintendent and escort for Breckheimer during her visit.

However, while Breckheimer was the sole medic for a convoy traveling in Afghanistan, the convoy came under attack from mortar fire. Everyone in the convoy sustained injuries, including Breckheimer, but despite her injuries, provided medical attention to the convoy members. Everyone survived, Blackmarr said.

"That level of leadership and quick action saved the lives of everyone in her convoy," she said.

In addition to her actions while deployed, Breckheimer also attributes being named OAY to furthering her education by taking classes toward a nursing degree and being proficient in her job.

Although it is an honor, the title also entails some obligations for each OAY, she said. The OAY are tasked with traveling their MAJCOM, interacting with enlisted Airmen, listening to their concerns and researching and formally reporting their concerns to the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force.

Many Airmen mentioned career job reservations and enlisted performance reporting as issues of concern, and they would like to see change, Breckheimer said.

It was not all business for Breckheimer, though. During her visit, she had a chance to enjoy Frontiercade, Crow Creek Challenge and tour facilities all over the base.

Barksdale does not house a missile wing like F.E. Warren, so witnessing the ICBM mission was an interesting experience for Breckheimer, she said.

"The thing that stands out the most is the missile mission," she said. "Coming from Barksdale, you hear about it, but I think, until you really see what all it entails, it's hard to understand all the hard work and dedication that goes into it."