Postal detachment wins AF-level award

Detachment 4 of the 2nd Air Postal Squadron won the Air Force Outstanding Aerial Mail Terminal award as the best postal unit in the Air Force.

The detachment is made up of 14 Airmen, two civilians and 64 contractors. Their achievements range from saving the Air Force and Department of Defense thousands of dollars by reforming the way they do their mission, delivered mail and other packages throughout four combatant commands and redefining their self-inspection program, ensuring the mission is being completed the best way possible.

“This was an outstanding year for us. We delivered things from Combined Federal Campaign contributions to voting ballots,” said Vern Yowell, Det. 4 chief. “We take a lot of pride in what we do because it involves a lot of moving parts.”

Det. 4 competed against units from the Pacific Air Forces and those from Air Forces Central, but won the award for the second year in a row.

“This was the second year we were eligible to compete for this award and we’ve won both times,” Yowell said.

For Chief Master Sgt. Kenneth Bourns, 2nd AIRPS chief enlisted manager, earning the award a second time displays the professionalism of those in Det. 4.

“The fact that they won the award in consecutive years speaks to the caliber of the people who make up Detachment 4 and the mission they do,” he said. “This wouldn’t have happened without the Airmen and NCOs that we have working here; they are truly great Airmen.”

Those Airmen who make up Det. 4 come from a variety of Air Force specialty codes, they don’t fall under one postal AFSC, Yowell said.

“This is a special duty, meaning our Airmen are anything from cops to medics. They all bring unique talents from their respective career fields and contribute to our mission here,” he said. “These are the finest Airmen around, as far as I’m concerned.”