Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel    
    
        Special Victims Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Bearded Airman among Air Guard's best By Master Sgt. Mike R. Smith
                National Guard Bureau
 ARLINGTON, Va. - By the looks of him, Staff Sgt. Scott Geisser seemed anything but your average "clean-cut" Airman here last week with his thick brown beard and mustache. Even so, the Air National Guard's top leaders praised him as one of the six Outstanding Airmen of the Year (OAY) for 2008. "I think somebody said that I looked like the Taliban," said Geisser, with a smile, when asked about his unusual appearance for a servicemember. Geisser, a combat controller from the 125th Special Tactics Squadron in Portland, Ore., is the Air Guard's Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, but he was preparing to deploy in support of Operation Enduring Freedom during the annual OAY events last week. In fact, he boarded a plane for Afghanistan immediately following the celebrations. Geisser said his facial hair, which takes him weeks to grow, allows him to "fit in" with other coalition forces overseas that are fighting the war on terror, including the Afghani troops he will soon be working, fighting and training with. "It makes it easer to blend in and not stick out like a sore thumb," said Geisser. Since beards take a while to grow, officials allowed Geisser to keep his beard and wear a business suit as he toured the National Capital Region and attended several awards ceremonies and functions. With him, but clean-faced and in their uniforms, were the Air Guard's other five OAYs including the Airman of the Year, Senior NCO of the Year, First Sergeant of the Year, Honor Guard Member of the Year and Honor Guard Program Manager of the Year. Geisser is the fourth Airman from the Oregon Air Guard to achieve an OAY distinction - an Oregon Airmen has been among the last three year's OAYs, and of those Airman, all three were recognized as one of the Air Force's 12 Outstanding Airman of the Year. "Oregon has a strong program," said Chief Master Sgt. Richard Smith, the Air Guard's command chief. "They recognize their folks well. They do a great job of documenting what they do when they deploy and submitting them for the appropriate awards when they get home." Chief Smith, who read through 324 OAY submissions from the 54 states and territories, said that documenting Airmen that go above and beyond is crucial to give recognition deserving of their outstanding performances. Geisser is among a handful of combat controllers that man two special tactics squadrons for the Air Guard: Oregon's 125th STS and the Kentucky Air Guard's 123rd STS. Both squadrons include combat controllers and combat weather Airmen. Additional pararescue Airmen man Kentucky's STS. Originally from Montana, where he first served as a Soldier in the Army National Guard, Geisser joined the 125th in 2005 after nearly three years of intense active duty Air Force training that includes full certification as an air traffic controller and some of the most demanding physical training in the U.S. military - combat controllers are trained to deploy with all other service components and provide close air support and air traffic control on austere landing fields, among other missions. "It was a good fit as far as family and work, it was a good balance for me," Geisser said about his move from active duty to the National Guard. At the time, the 125th was forming as a new Air Guard squadron, and the unit became operational in January, thanks in part, leaders said, to Geisser's hard work and dedication. "We are very proud of Scott," said Lt. Col. Jim Gregory, 125th Combat Operations Group commander during the OAY awards banquet June 19 at Bolling Air Force Base, Washington. "We are looking forward to him doing great things down range for us, and I can't think of a better person to earn the award." Officials said Geisser researched and helped purchase the squadron's initial equipment issue. "Every little piece of gear, we had to research, find the best price and [justify] its purchasing," said Geisser, who said that just one combat controller can require more than $10,000 in personal equipment. Geisser also served as a flight leader during his Airman Leadership School last year at McGee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tenn. On his return, he deployed with a combat controller from his unit and two controllers from the Kentucky Air Guard to Afghanistan for 30 days. There, the group trained coalition joint air traffic controllers on new equipment. But when asked about his accomplishment during a tour of the nation's Capital June 19, Geisser paused, scratched his thick beard and humbly replied: "I definitely feel that there are [controllers] that deserve it more than I do," he said. "I think it's more a reflection of the high quality squadron that I work in than it is anything that I have done personally."
 SHARE
 PRINT
 
 Washington Guard, Royal Thai Army Conduct Expert Exchange
 By Joseph Siemandel,
  Tennessee Guard Rescues Hiker in Great Smoky Mountains Park
 By Lt. Col. Darrin Haas,
  Champions Repeat at NH National Guard Marksmanship Match
 By Master Sgt. Charles Johnston,
  More
 Tennessee Guard Rescues Hiker in Great Smoky Mountains Park Guard News • yesterday
 Champions Repeat at NH National Guard Marksmanship Match Guard News • 2 days ago
 West Virginia Air National Guard Wing Conducts ’Super Drill’ Guard News • 2 days ago
 Idaho Medical Airmen Train in Field to Boost Readiness Guard News • 2 days ago
 Alaska Air National Guard rescues 6 plane crash victims Guard News • 3 days ago
 2024 (189)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil