2009 AETC Communications & Information and General John P. Jumper Awards Published March 3, 2010 By Ensign Rex Miller 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Three members of Vance's 71st Communications Squadron won Air Education and Training Command level awards. Master Sgt. David Aleshire was recognized as 3A Senior Non-Commissioned Officer in the Communications and Information Professionalism awards. Senior Airman Danny Cruz is the 3A Airman in the Communications and Information Professionalism awards. Jody Bailey, an Air Traffic Control and Landing Systems maintenance technician at Vance, took the award for civilian specialist in the Communications and Information Professionalism awards. Sergeant Aleshire was the Vance AFB lead for Communications and Information issues--one of which was the squadron's preparation for the Air Force's conversion of specialty codes within the Communications career field; one of the largest specialty code conversions in Air Force history. As a result of the conversion, 33 Vance AFB personnel have new Cyberspace Support career field specialty codes effective Nov. 1, 2009. Airman Cruz processed 576 work order requests ranging from something as simple as installing a scanner to coordinating with the base's contracted IT department to diagnose network connection problems. "It could be really easy or really hard," said Airman Cruz. "It just depends on the mood the computers are in. "One of the things I remember is installing security patches remotely on over 100 computers across the base in one day," said Airman Cruz. "The task date and due date were the same day. We found a way to remotely execute the job rather than going site to site. It could have taken two weeks, but it was a challenge we met. At the end of the day, we had a great sense of accomplishment." When asked what experience of which he was most proud, he described the three months in which he had to fill the unit's role as an NCO in charge. "It definitely enhanced my supervisory skills." Air Traffic Control and Landing Systems maintenance technician Jody Bailey took the award for civilian specialist in the Communications and Information Professionalism Awards. "It's quite an honor just to be nominated for the award let alone being selected as winner. I have the good fortune to work with very talented members of our Air Force," said Mr. Bailey. "Preparing for new technologies, while at the same time, meeting the challenges of keeping our legacy radars at peak performance, makes good use of my skills and experience. I'm proud to be part of Team Vance." The award winners from the AETC level will now go on to compete in Air Force-level awards.