Airman earns course's first ACE award Published Dec. 17, 2014 By Airman 1st Class Robert L. McIlrath 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Making a passing grade in a class is meant to be difficult, but scoring perfect on every test for the first time in the history of the class is a completely different challenge. Airman Ryan Smith, 365th Training Squadron A-10/U2 avionics graduate, received the ACE award on Dec. 4, 2014, at Sheppard, for scoring 100 percent on all 11 block tests. Smith, a Milford, Mich. native, and his three classmates completed the four-month course one month and seven days ahead of time. "It's exactly what I came into the Air Force to do," said Smith. "I came to push myself to be the best that I can." One of Smith's instructors, Tech. Sgt. Jason Gauna, 365th TRS avionics instructor, feels a sense of relief that one of his students finally achieved the ACE award. "The course is now two and a half-years-old," Gauna said. "Preaching to the choir of how to be the best you can be was finally executed." Smith attributes his success to his instructors and classmates. "I couldn't have done it without the help of the great instructors and classmates I had," he said. The Beale AFB, Calif. bound Airman plans to use the ACE award he earned as a stepping stone for the rest of his career. "I want to knock out my career development courses as fast as possible and learn as much as I can about the U2," Smith said. "I want to continue to hold myself to the same standards."