18th Comm Squadron earns multiple awards Published March 11, 2009 By Staff Sgt. Nestor Cruz 18th Wing Public Affairs KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- One of Kadena's squadrons recently scored a hat trick, earning three awards for excellence from Pacific Air Forces. The 18th Communications Squadron cinched the Maj. Gen. William R. Yost Award as the best large communications unit in Pacific Air Forces and had two individual winners in the Outstanding Field Grade Officer and Outstanding Civilian Specialist categories. "A significant portion of the award package is stuff we did downrange in the area of responsibility," said Chief Master Sgt. Mychael Bland, 18th CS chief enlisted manager. "Our folks go out there and do exceptional things, always going above and beyond." Airmen from the squadron have deployed to various locations including Baghdad, Kuwait, Cuba and the Philippines. They supported numerous missions, including counter-drug operations and Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Chief Bland said the squadron's success is a combination of achievements accomplished while deployed and here at home. "We maintain the largest residential phone program in PACAF, all the air systems, land mobile radios and we process more than four and a half million pounds of mail through the largest post office in the Pacific Command," he said. "Ninety-nine percent of the time, if people don't notice it's the 18th CS doing these things, it's because we're doing it right." The squadron's chief enlisted manager said the Maj. Gen. William R. Yost Award is a team award in which everybody takes credit. "I think the award speaks huge volumes about the quality of people in our squadron," said Chief Bland. "My predecessors, our current leadership and everyone in the shops, they did all the work and made it happen." The team's award can also be credited to Maj. David Castor, 18th CS commander, and Brad Bernstein, 18th CS lead project manager. These two men earned the Outstanding Field Grade Officer award and Outstanding Civilian Specialist award, respectively. For Major Castor, who helped lead the squadron as deputy commander and currently as squadron commander, earning the FGO award was made possible because of the professional Airmen on his team. "There's very little in the award package that I did by myself, most of it came from the backing of a really great squadron," said Major Castor. "I already knew the folks in this squadron are exceptional and that's part of the reason I'm proud to take on the squadron commander role." According to 18th CS leadership, Mr. Bernstein led several communications projects, including the installation of a new antenna on the air traffic control tower, an upgrade to the base classified network and the relocation of the land mobile radio repeater. These and other projects helped improve base operations and saved the wing thousands of dollars and hundreds of man hours. "There is so much opportunity here at Kadena for us to ensure we provide communications to support the mission," said Mr. Bernstein. Although Mr. Bernstein earned the Outstanding Civilian Specialist award, he gives credit to the Active Duty men and women on his team. "Getting the award is actually a credit to the Airmen, NCO's and leadership of this squadron," he said. "I'm very thankful to be sitting in this position where I can help Team Kadena and our warfighters." The squadron commander said every member of his team recognizes the significance of the awards and will continue to live up to the Air Force core values. "We have a reputation in PACAF for getting the job done," said Major Castor. "We're not doing this to win awards, but because our Air Force needs us to live up to the core value of 'excellence in all we do.'"