82 LRS NCO named AETC Traffic Management NCO of the Year Published Feb. 1, 2013 By Airman 1st Class Jelani Gibson 82nd TRW Public Affairs SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Tech. Sgt. Brian Neal of the 82nd Logistics Readiness Squadron was named the 2012 Air Education and Training Command (AETC) Traffic Management NCO of the Year award. Neal was selected as the NCO of the year in a major command that has over 40,000 active-duty personnel. As a quality assurance evaluator, Neal halved the 24-hour delivery standard in the Air Force by 50 percent, revamped mobility procedures and cut processing time by 60 percent. Neal looks at the moment of receiving the award itself as a surreal experience. "It was kind of like a dream," Neal said. "It was one of those moments where I wondered if it was really happening." Neal takes pride in the award he received for his professional accolades. "It's an honor," Neal said. "It's good to see the leadership recognize my hard work and dedication." Neal cited commitment, work ethic and a support network as the reason for his success in knowing how to handle to different situations. "I have one of the best support networks," Neal said. "They (supervisors) always push me to do better." Enjoying the entire aspect of what needs to be done and not knowing what's going to happen day-to-day is one of the more appealing parts of the job to Neal. "Nothing is routine," Neal said. "You never know what's going to happen." Working hard and asking for leadership is one of the habits Neal credits towards his success as an NCO. "Don't be afraid to step out and try something new," Neal said.