USAG-Natick Public Affairs Office earns IMCOM honors

By Bob Reinert/USAG-Natick Public AffairsFebruary 26, 2014

USAG-Natick Public Affairs Office earns IMCOM honors
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

NATICK, Mass. -- The U.S. Army Garrison Natick Public Affairs Office won a pair of first place awards in the 2013 Installation Management Command CONUS Keith L. Ware Public Affairs Awards Competition.

"NSSC This Week," USAG-Natick's biweekly newspaper, won in print Category C, Digital Publication. Tazanyia Mouton took an individual first in broadcast Category J, Video News Report.

The annual competition "recognizes Soldiers and Department of the Army civilian employees for excellence in achieving the objectives of the Army Public Affairs Program. On behalf of the Secretary of the Army, the Office of the Chief of Public Affairs conducts the competition annually in order to recognize, cultivate and inspire excellence within the Army public affairs community."

The newsletter and Mouton's video report advance to the Department of the Army competition, where they will compete against winners from other commands. Judging will take place March 1-7.

"I'm very happy with the news of our success in the Keith L. Ware competition," said Lt. Col. Brian Greata, USAG-Natick garrison commander. "It reflects the quality of work done by the Public Affairs Office. I'm confident that their submissions will compete well at the Department of the Army level."

It was the third IMCOM honor in as many years for NSSC This Week, which placed first in 2011 and third in 2012.

"It speaks to the great people who put out NSSC This Week," said John Harlow, Natick's chief of Public Affairs. "I truly believe we could pick any issue and compete. We have a great group of storytellers and because of them, we are able to share the Natick story with the world."

Natick's winning entry was the Nov. 22 issue, whose cover story was the visit by Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond T. Odierno. It also contained stories about Veterans Day, the POW/MIA chair installed at Natick, NSSC's clothing drive for homeless veterans, shelters that PM FSS will erect in Guam, and Capt. Justin Fitch's efforts to raise funds to prevent suicides among veterans.

Mouton's award-winning entry, which used videography by Rob Hawley, was a report on Odierno's visit.

"Tazanyia has done nothing but impress since she came to Natick," Harlow said. "It is very rare that a Department of the Army Intern wins a Keith L. Ware. She not only has earned recognition for her video work, but played a key role in the advancement of the newsletter. Her career path is going to skyrocket."

This year's IMCOM CONUS competition featured 127 submissions vying in 36 print, broadcast and community relations categories.

Related Links:

NSSC This Week

Natick Soldier Systems Center