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Pope CGO wins 2006 IMA of the Year

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Lisa Ferguson
  • 43rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  "Captain Penney is far and above a traditional reservist," said Col. John McDonald, 43rd Airlift Wing Vice Commander.

Capt. Crystal Penney, 43rd Operations Support Squadron, is an intelligence officer in the Air Force Reserve Individual Mobilization Augmentee program. She recently won the 2006 Air Force Reserve Intelligence IMA Company Grade Officer of the Year award.
She spent five years on active duty, before separating in July 2005.

"I was able to go from active duty to the Reserves within the same unit," she said.

Being an IMA hasn't stopped her from deploying.

"Even though I left active duty, I didn't want to leave the mission and comradery of deployments," she said. "I did a 45-day deployment in October 2005 and another 120-day deployment in February, both (in Southwest Asia)."

She deployed with the 2nd Airlift Squadron both times.

"She spent many months with me last year in the AOR," Colonel McDonald said. "I thought she was active duty, because she was there and back in such a short period of time. She did so much more than just her job, whether it was for morale or social goings-on in the squadron or flying in the airplane; she was always quick to raise her hand."

Captain Penney said one of the stressors of active duty is that on top of the deployments, she never had down time or just time to relax, rest or travel.

"The IMA program has allowed me to feel more excited to come to work and do my job," she said. "It also helps me be more motivating to my co-workers, because I bring in a fresh perspective as someone who's not there every day."

Captain Penney uses her Reserve days to benefit the squadron and expand her knowledge, coming in during exercises or inspection times.

According to Lt. Col. David Gould, 43rd Operations Support Squadron commander, Captain Penney is quite an asset to the squadron and Team Pope.

"While deployed she supported 7,200 sorties and 153,120 passengers, aiding in the 98 percent mission success rate," he said. "Captain Penney is an extraordinary briefer, presenting more than 40 intelligence briefs to base leadership, as well as nearly 400 pre- and post-mission briefs to aircrew."

Captain Penney has also constructed more than 175 Evasion Plans of Action, essential for all flying mission operations, Colonel Gould said.

Captain Penney does not have a civilian job, but keeps busy through volunteer work, traveling, reading and pursuing her writing interests.

She ran in the Disney World Race for the Cure, raising more than $250 herself for breast cancer research; volunteered eight hours to help raise more than $1,500 for a local children's hospital; and organized a canned food drive to help a local high school provide food to those in need for the Disney World Race for the Taste.

Traveling is another enjoyable outlet for Captain Penney.

"After this last deployment I went on a three-week vacation to the [United Kingdom], going around the England, Wales and Scotland," she said. "After the deployment in 2005, I went to Hong Kong for the Chinese New Year."

Captain Penney also spends time with family in the states and working on projects in her house.