News

78th SFS officer earns CGO honor for entire area of responsibility

  • Published
  • By Holly Birchfield
  • 78 ABW/PA
When Capt. Jason Hamman, S4 officer in charge and commander of 78th Security Forces Squadron's Special Response Team, set out on his first deployment earlier this year, he never imagined it would propel him into the limelight. 

Captain Hamman, who is currently a Joint Defense Operations Center battle captain in a forward deployed location, was recently named as the Company Grade Officer of the Month for the entire area of responsibility. 

The Air Force officer won the distinguished CGO of the Month title at several lower levels, including in his squadron, before taking the top honor. 

From stifling a potential kidnapping of a host national girl and safely returning her to her family to suppressing improvised explosive devices on a main services route, Captain Hamman has gone beyond the standard to meet his deployed mission, and his leadership in the AOR has taken notice. 

"Captain Hamman is the No. 1 Air Force officer and battle captain I've ever had assigned to me," said Lt. Col. Martin Apprich, the commander who supervises Captain Hamman. 

Despite all he has done in theater though, the captain, who is one of 700 CGOs in the AOR, said he is humbled by the honor he has received. 

"This is a significant event due to the fact that it is for the entire Iraq AOR," he said. "There is such a large number of CGOs and so many are doing extraordinary things everyday." 

Captain Hamman knows he didn't get to where he is all on his own. 

"This is the first time (I've received) an award on this scale," he said. "I really could not have been this successful without all the hard work and dedication of all of the Soldiers and Airmen I work with. Many of the Soldiers I work with have been here for over 15 months, and although they have been away from friends and family for such an extended time, their dedication and commitment haven't wavered." 

The Air Force officer said the award is just as much a reflection on his colleagues as it is on him. 

"This is a testament to the caliber of folks we have in the military today and the sacrifices they are making for our country," he said. 

Captain Hamman was presented with the AOR CGO of the Month award by Brig. Gen. Robin Rand, 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing commander, in front of fellow military members from throughout the AOR. 

For this Air Force warrior, celebration of the accomplishment will come later. For now, he's too busy serving his country.