Gunter NCO Academy, instructor, retired major receive volunteer awards

  • Published
  • By Joy Ovington
  • Air University Public Affairs
They help the community by living the Air Force Core Value "Service Before Self," and on April 30 the Volunteer and Information Center and the Junior League of Montgomery recognized the Gunter Noncommissioned Officer Academy, one of its instructors, and a retired major in the 2008 River Region Volunteer of the Year awards.

Master Sgt. Ricky Higby was a co-winner in the individual adult category along with Maj. (ret.) Gilbert Jennings. The group adult award went to GNCOA.

Anne Hails, VIC volunteer coordinator, said that choosing one winner from each category is always a difficult task so occasionally there are co-winners."Sergeant Higby and Mr. Jennings are outstanding individuals who unselfishly devote their time and skills to make the world a better place."

In 2008, Sergeant Higby led 300 volunteers in community projects and devoted 365 hours to 42 community events on and off base, according to his nomination.

He pioneered the Timberbrook Estates Neighborhood Watch in Millbrook. He organized 15 big gift bags with the U.S. Marines Toys for Tots program and coordinated the gathering of 57 gift stockings for the Salvation Army.

With his church, Sergeant Higby traveled to Uganda, Africa, to assist local pastors with their ministries. He became known as "Coach Higby" during a soccer camp for more than 300 Ugandan children.

Sergeant Higby said in the Air Force there are core values "telling us it's not just about you especially as we go up rank; it really becomes about them."

"We are here to help them. And being a part of the church, I believe that we are at the hands and feet of Christ. Taking that literally, to me it means love God, love people," he said.

Mr. Jennings was honored for his work in disaster relief in the past year. He said when he retired from the Air Force in 2005 he had no idea he would be spending so much time on a "volunteer" mission field providing training to those in need of what the military had taught him.

Mr. Jennings made five trips to the coastal areas during hurricanes Ivan, Katrina, and Rita.

He served as treasurer of the Autauga County Firefighters Association and secretary/treasurer of the county's chapter of the Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster. He also led the volunteer registration center in the aftermath of the 2008 Prattville tornado.

Gunter's NCO Academy won the group award because it met the criteria of "best team approach to problem-solving and improving the community through decisive action as a group," according to its nomination.

In 2008, GNCOA members volunteered more than 2,100 hours, helped save undermanned agencies $12,700 in manpower and $60,000 in resources to complete projects on various levels, the nomination said.

The school collected 6,000 pounds of food for the Montgomery area food banks and gave 135 pints of blood to the Red Cross. The academy assisted with the Marines Toys for Tots, Governor's Operation Grateful Heart, and Christmas Clearing House.

More than78 members also volunteered at the Cong. Bill Nichols State Veterans Home, visiting World War II, Korean, and Vietnam Veterans.