Airfield systems tech named October Airman of Month Published Dec. 9, 2013 By Senior Airman Frank Casciotta 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Senior Airman Evan Gillespie, an airfield systems technician with the 71st Communications Squadron, is the 71st Flying Training Wing Airman of the Month for October. This was Gillespie's third time winning the Airman of the Month award in the nearly four years he has spent here. "I was not as nervous meeting the board this time," said Gillespie, a native of Trinity, N.C. "I had a lot of practice with mock boards my leaders put on for me." As an airfield technician Gillespie repairs and maintains ground-to-air communication equipment air traffic controllers use to communicate with pilots. "I like my job because we have a direct impact on the mission here," said Gillespie. "I get a lot of satisfaction knowing that." Gillespie recently coordinated an effort with his squadron to spruce up the landscape at a local foster home. "Airman Gillespie found a need in the community and saw that it was filled," said Tech. Sgt. Manuel Feliz, an airfield systems supervisor with the 71st CS. "He's a highly motivated Airman and I was not surprised that he was selected to be the Airman of the Month again, despite some outstanding competition." Gillespie has hopes of becoming an officer and will submit his package in the near future. "I want to commission, but if I can't I think I will still stay in enlisted and retire one day," said Gillespie. Each month Airmen across Vance are selected to represent their squadrons as the Airman of the Month. Candidates face a board made up of a chief, a senior NCO, an NCO and the previous month's Airman of the Month. They are judged on their military bearing, dress and appearance, and their knowledge of current events about the Air Force and the world around them.