VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- A customer service technician from the 71st Comptroller Squadron earned an unexpected reward July 7 while sitting at his desk.

"I was working on some (permanent change of station) vouchers when a lot of people walked into my section," said Senior Airman Stacey Bell.  "Col. (Clark) Quinn asked my flight commander to say a few words about me, and that's when I knew I had been selected as the Airman of the Month."

Bell was selected as the AOM by superintendents from each Group within the 71st Flying Training Wing. Airmen are selected based on their work performance and merit as an Airman.

"I actually really like my job," said Bell, about the importance of customer service to the Airmen he helps. "I love sending paperwork up the chain without anything being rejected. It's like a personal victory when I make sure someone's paperwork goes through without any problems. I also like doing the research to solve problems."

The CPTS is part of the Wing Staff Agencies which has about 1/12 of the base's E-4s and below and rarely has Airman of the Month recipients. That changed with a new system for reviewing award packages.

"I was really surprised, because I knew my office has been trying to get an Airman of the Month for a long time, but I had no idea I had even been nominated until I heard my name," said Bell.

Bell's award package went through the new review process, which was devised by Senior Master Sgt. Lori Shackleford, the WSA superintendent. His award package along with other hopeful candidates was reviewed by randomly selected NCOs and civilians from across the WSA.

Each award package is reviewed and graded by random individuals of the proper rank within the group, said Shackleford. Then the package is sent back to the writer with edits, and the winner is selected. Bell's was the third iteration of the new process and the results speak for themselves. A deserving Airman was recognized for his efforts.

The new process cut the time spent reviewing packages by senior leaders in WSA by more than half.

Airman Bell spent a day with Chief Master Sgt. Peter Speen, the 71st Flying Training Wing command chief, during the most recent Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training class graduation.

The day started with physical training at the Fitness Center, and then both Airmen donned their service dress uniforms for the graduation ceremony later that morning. Bell then joined Speen at the graduation dinner.