Munitions systems student earns ACE award

Published June 18, 2013
By Airman 1st Class Jelani Gibson
82nd Training Wing Public Affairs

SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- A non-commissioned officer has lived up to his name and found his center of gravity grounded in an achievement that few rarely see.

For Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Plumb, 363rd Training Squadron munitions systems apprentice, academic excellence was achieved on a rare level as he earned the ACE award June 12.

The ACE award is given for an individual who achieves a 100 percent grade average throughout the entire length of the course. There are 43 training days in the munitions systems training.

"It's a big accomplishment," Plumb said. "It feels good."

Plumb, who expressed satisfaction with his performance, wanted to represent his unit in the best manner possible.

"I wanted to make the (Air) National Guard proud," he said.

The camaraderie and sense of belonging is one of Plumb's favorite aspects of being in the career field he enjoys being in.

"Our ammo troops are top-notch," he said. "They make you feel like family."

In a job that has potentially life altering decisions, Plumb feels that his performance in the schoolhouse is what will be required of him on the daily basis when he goes back to his home unit.

"You've got to be prepared if you're going to deliver munitions on bad people," he said. "This is serious stuff."

Even after scoring a 100 percent average throughout the course, Plumb feels the need to better himself.

"It puts me on a good footing," he said. "Everybody has got to improve and upgrade; if you're not ready for that, it reflects badly."

As Plumb prepared to graduate he felt assured that he could do his job well.

"Anything I do," he said, "I do to the best of my abilities."

Plumb plans on taking his newly found talent back to Joint Base Andrews, Md., where he is a member of the 113th Wing, District of Columbia Air National Guard.