NCO singled out as AF's best Published June 19, 2006 By Senior Airman Ashley DiFalco McGuire Public Affairs MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. -- "In Iraq we are actually winning this war. We are kicking down doors, finding the bad guys and either capturing them or killing them — bottom line. However, we are losing the war of public opinion. The media shapes public opinion, public opinion shapes lawmakers' decisions and lawmakers' decisions rule our world. Public affairs specialists are deploying now, more than ever, because we need to win both sides of the war in order to bring peace and success to Iraq and its people." These are the words of a sergeant who has singled himself out as being the best in the Air Force at what he does, with his selection as the 2005 Air Force Public Affairs NCO of the year. Staff Sgt. Bryan Bouchard, currently deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, was shocked when he received notification of the award. "No one ever expects to win something like this," he said. "My career field is chocked full of great people doing great things every day. This just shows that even a blind squirrel can find a nut every now and then." Sergeant Bouchard seems to be the only one shocked by his success, said Lt. Col. Lisa Richter, 421st Combat Training Squadron commander and Sergeant Bouchard's home-station commander. "Bryan embodies the expeditionary Airman. He built the first ever Air Force public affairs combat skills training program and is expanding its scope,” she said. “Like disassembling the M-16 rifle, today’s Airmen need to understand their role in telling the Air Force story. Strategic communications must be incorporated into our expeditionary training and Bryan has been the foundation in developing this training and integrating it into our contingency skills training. He sets himself apart as an outstanding NCO and will continue to do award-winning work wherever he goes." Sergeant Bouchard's is one of only two contingency skills instructors for the public affairs career field at the AMWC. This year he was recognized as Air Mobility Command's NCO of the year for the second year in a row. In addition, he won awards for the Air Force's 2005 best deployed publication and the Intermediate Photojournalism Course's Distinguished Body of Work. "The reason why this (award) means more is because, unlike other award packages we see every day, the PA award submissions only contain information regarding your abilities in your job," he said. "It's a reflection solely on how I do my job, which to me is far more important than the other stuff." In late 2005, Sergeant Bouchard deployed in support of Hurricane Katrina. "That was the greatest experience in my career thus far. I have never been able to do so much as an enlisted Airman and actually see the effects of my work," Sergeant Bouchard said. "For those of us who had the opportunity to be on the ground there, to see and touch the people who needed our help, the reward was as immediate as the anguish." Currently deployed for the third time in 18 months, Sergeant Bouchard says he is taking the experience for all it's worth. Working in a one person-deep shop, he is responsible for a bi-weekly publication, base photography, base information, coordination with surrounding bases and all media relations. "I am a work-a-holic. I get obsessive over tasks which are given to me to complete," he said. "Having (deployment) experience opens your eyes to the rest of the Air Force. When deployed, I like the purity of doing the job without the hindrance of the bureaucracy and red tape we have back home. Like I said before, we are winning this war, and that is the story I am here to tell." Although Sergeant Bouchard may be surprised he won the Air Force-level award, his passion and dedication for his job singled him out as being the best. After winning such a prestige award, where can he go from here? Sergeant Bouchard has been selected for officer training school and said he hopes to hold the same award as Lieutenant Bouchard in the years to come.