Airmen, British civilians recognized for special relationship

  • Published
  • By Karen Abeyasekere
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  The 100th Air Refueling Wing commander and the British-American Committee chairman honored selected Airmen and civilians with community relations awards at a ceremony here July 8.

Col. Christopher Kulas, 100th ARW commander, and Sheila Bailey, B-AC chairman, presented coins to the 100th Civil Engineer Squadron Readiness and Emergency Management Flight; the Royal Air Force Marham lacrosse team; and Geoff Pleasance, an English painter.

The readiness and emergency management flight built a joint response foundation with civilian agencies from Suffolk. This took them seven months, during which they carried out several events and activities to strengthen relationships with the U.K.

One major event was training between the lead Suffolk County Council emergency planning officer and RAF Mildenhall emergency management flight. The team also performed several emergency response exercises.

The RAF Marham lacrosse team was recognized as a team of superb ambassadors for their respective air forces and within the civilian community. Having seven American players on the joint lacrosse team brings relations between the British and Americans closer together when the players practice and play together.

"On and off the field we're building those relations; learning about each other's cultures, jobs and how we take care of business," said Master Sgt. Brian Cain, 3rd Air Force International Relations in Security Policing superintendent. "We integrate, socialize and share our knowledge, and strengthen relations."

Pleasance was lauded for epitomizing special community relations. Though he has no military affiliation, Pleasance lived locally for many years and considers visiting forces his neighbors.

His work includes detailed murals, painted both in the Galaxy Club and 95th Reconnaissance Squadron. One mural, which he undertook for the 95th RS, captures the history of the squadron, and took more than 140 hours to complete.

The award is a high honor and is given to groups or individuals, British or American, from on or off base, who epitomize the special relationship shared by the United Kingdom and United States, and is a way to recognize efforts on a local and personal level.

The B-AC awards run continually throughout the year. Anyone can nominate someone they feel has really made a difference.

The five award categories are: U.K. individual (or couple); U.S. Individual (or couple); U.K. group; U.S. group; or young person (under 18).