FORT BRAGG, N.C. - It's called the Fort Bragg Oscars and though it lacks all the glitz and glamour of a Hollywood production, it is of equal importance to those in attendance.
Tuesday, more than 300 Fort Bragg employees packed into the Fort Bragg Club's Lafayette Room as the post held its 20th Annual Installation Awards ceremony.
The ceremony honored both civilian and military employees in various categories for their efforts and accomplishment throughout the year.
Civilian Personnel Advisory Center director Jeanne Scharch hosted the ceremony, which was attended by Lt. Gen. Frank G. Helmick XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg commanding general. Fort Bragg Deputy public affairs officer Tom McCollum served as the event's narrator.
"Twenty years ago, the Fort Bragg Civilian Personnel Office established a Civilian Personnel Awards Ceremony," Scharch said as she addressed the attendees. "Over the years, this event has evolved from a one-dimensional, civilian awards program ... to one that embraces the total force - both uniform and Army Civilian Corps. It has become a Fort Bragg tradition. Fort Bragg has repeatedly been recognized by the Army Community of Excellence for this initiative. Today, the tradition continues."
Scharch added that Fort Bragg has over 65,000 personnel on this installation who are eligible for nomination for recognition at this ceremony. This year, the voting committee reviewed 129 nominations in 13 categories.
The 82nd Airborne Division Chorus sang the national anthem and serenaded the audience with several tunes before lunch was served.
Fort Bragg Garrison Commander Col. Stephen Sicinski rendered the reaffirmation of oath to civilian employees and Col. Rolando Castro, Womack Army Medical Center's acting commander led the audience in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
During the awards ceremony, employees were honored in numerous team and individual categories, including: Drive for Diversity (individual and team); Above and Beyond; Office Administrator of the Year; Efficiency Award (team and individual); Employee of the Year (GS-1 through 6; GS-7 through 10 and GS-11 and above); Customer Service Award (Team and individual); Supervisor of the Year; Executive of the year and the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Soldier and Family Assistance Center won Fort Bragg's 2010 Drive for Diversity Award in the team category, while Army Community Service's Connie Daniels took home the same award as an individual.
Castro accepted the 2010 Above and Beyond award for his staff at WAMC.
Sheryl Kanelos of the Joint Special Operations Command was named the Office Administrator of the Year, while Charlene McIntosh, 82nd Abn. Div.; Sheri Crowe, Fort Bragg PAO and JSOC's Gary Wilson were named Employees of the Year in their respective pay grades.
In addition, Sue O'Brien, Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation took home the Customer Service Award in the individual category. The team award went to the Blackberry Enterprise Service Team of the Network Enterprise Center.
Carl Stahl, Directorate of Human Resources, was awarded the Supervisor of the Year award and FMWR's Barbara Trower-Simpkins was named Executive of the Year.
FMWR's Rhett Stroupe received the 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award for devoting 28 years of service to the Fort Bragg community.
"Mr. Stroupe has devoted over 28 years to Fort Bragg Soldiers and their Families, managing more than seven large scale special events attracting thousands of attendees and generating significant revenues," McCollum explained during his narrative for the award. "He is a three-time recipient of the Army Excellence in Management Award for Leisure Travel."
The 2010 Efficiency awards went to Larry Frank Herrindine, Directorate of Public Works, individual and the Media Production Division, John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, which won as a team.
Scharch thanked the workforce for its daily efforts.
"You're the lead workforce on Fort Bragg," she said. "I'm proud to be a member. We are all winners, thank you ... for your service to our nation and to this installation. We could not accomplish our mission without you."
Helmick echoed Scharch's comments, adding that he is pleased with the efforts of the installation's workforce.
"Like Jeanne said, there's just no way we could do our job without Department of the Army civilians. It can't be done," he said. "On Fort Bragg alone, we have over 10,000 Department of the Army civilians doing their job every day.
Helmick also recognized Ruth Crumley, who has worked at the U.S. Army Special Operations Command for 51 years.
"I've enjoyed every job that I've had and I do enjoy working with Soldiers," she said. "I think that it keeps your mind active and you learn more than you would if you just had a regular civilian job."
Helmick closed out the event by saying, "It's important to recognize superior service and that's what today is all about - recognizing those people who exceed the standard."
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