First sergeant awarded Service Member of the Year

Published Oct. 6, 2009
By 2nd Lt. Carolyn Glover
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Master Sgt. Bubba Beason, 305th Maintenance squadron first sergeant, received the "Service Member of the Year Award" at the 68th USO Gala Oct. 2 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Philadelphia.

This award, the highest military honor bestowed by Liberty USO, is granted to only one member from each branch of the Armed Forces for demonstrating outstanding commitment to both a military career and the local community.

Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General James E. Cartwright, presented Sergeant Beason with the award, recognizing him for not only his military excellence but for his dedication to the Airmen and citizens of his community.

Sergeant Beason was the first Air Force first sergeant to graduate from the U.S. Army's Air Assault School in Fort Campbell, Ky. and serves as president of the McGuire First Sergeant's 21-member council. He also supervised the first-ever McGuire Air Force Base Gold Star Mother's Remembrance Ruck March. In addition, Sergeant Beason created the inaugural New Jersey statewide 140-mile running event honoring 132 fallen New Jersey service members killed in Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.

According to Michael Consedine, a member of the Liberty USO Board of Directors who determined the award winners, "We try to look beyond the medals, to the heart of the guy that beats underneath. Bubba has a huge heart."

Sergeant Beason's achievements have been applauded by his friends, family, and fellow Airmen.

But, to Sergeant Beason, all of the recognition is unnecessary. "I was doing my job. I'm not going above and beyond. I'm just doing my job and having fun about it."