Patrick Airmen honored at Sergeants Association convention Published June 7, 2007 By Airman David Dobrydney PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Patrick AFB's chapter of the Air Force Sergeants Association recognized two of its members at AFSA's annual Division 5 convention in Tampa May 26. Senior Airman Charlene Rueben of the 45th Aeromedical-Dental Squadron was named First Term Airman of the Year and Tech. Sgt. Christian Pardue of the 45th Operations Support Squadron was named NCO of the Year. In addition, Division 5 of the AFSA named Sergeant Pardue as their NCO of the Year, chose Patrick's Chapter 557 as chapter of the year and named chapter president Staff Sgt. Jeffery Rueben of the 45th Civil Engineer Squadron as member of the year. The recognition of Patrick's chapter is very significant, said Sergeant Rueben, as Division 5 of AFSA encompasses chapters in Florida, Panama, and Puerto Rico. As the Division member of the year, Sergeant Rueben is now eligible to be recognized at the upcoming Professional Airman's Conference in Orlando, a gathering of AFSA representatives from all over the world. "It is an honor," said Airman Rueben on being named First Term Airman of the Year, and described being a member of AFSA a "great learning experience." She also expressed pride in the work AFSA does. An example she cited was the convention's "march of checks" that raised $3,300 for the Enlisted Widow's Village. "It's been a good year," said Sergeant Pardue, non-commissioned officer in charge of weapons and tactics at the 45th Operations Support Squadron. As a member of AFSA, Sergeant Pardue, recently named Air Force Space Command's Outstanding Space Systems Operator of the Year, said, "It's on a much larger scale as far as doing things for the military." AFSA was organized in 1961 with the goal of improving the lives of enlisted Airmen. "We fight for the enlisted force's benefit," said Sergeant Rueben, who credits the success of the Patrick chapter of AFSA to the quality of its leadership. "For anything we come together on as a chapter," he said. Those interested in joining AFSA can contact Sergeant Rueben at 494-7642.