Travis senior airman competes for AMC's top athlete honor

Published Sept. 1, 2011
By Staff Sgt. Timothy Boyer
60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Senior Airman Michael Gunter, 60th Mission Support Group knowledge operator and native of Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded Travis Athlete of the Year on Aug. 24 at the 60th Air Mobility Wing conference room during a wing leadership meeting.

Gunter's award package has been forwarded to Air Mobility Command to compete with other winners for the command athlete of the year.

The nominations for athlete of the year come from unit sports representatives and first sergeants, said Brittany Johnson, 60th Force Support Squadron interim sports director.

Once nominated, the athletes and their supervision complete the athlete of the year forms, which include all the sports, accolades and highlights. Also included are military and personal life highlights and accomplishments.

"This award is for the Travis athlete of the year, but we are looking at the whole-person concept," Johnson said. "The scoring is weighted at about 70 percent athletics and 30 percent military and personal life."

Johnson said the board chose Gunter unanimously.

Gunter led his intramural basketball and flag football teams to the playoffs.

He is also the co-captain of the Travis varsity men's basketball team. His scoring led the team to the Pacific West regional playoffs. He has led the team in scoring for the past two years, with his game high of 46 points in early November, 2010.

"I couldn't do any of this without my team," Gunter said. "Without them I wouldn't get this award. It's a team game and their efforts are what led me to this success."

He was invited to play for the All Air Force Men's Basketball team but due to circumstances out of his control, was unable to play this year, he said.

In addition to his athletic accomplishments, Gunter won the Information Awareness Dominance Award, an AMC-level award. He was also awarded the Senior Airman Below-The-Zone promotion for his accomplishments.

"Senior Airman Gunter consistently stays out in front of our headlights," said Col. Robert Eatman, 60th MSG commander. "He anticipates issues, moves out smartly to address them and has them solved before they even show up on his supervisor's desk. With his performance as an Airman, I can hardly wait to see his impact when he becomes an NCO."

Gunter also exhibits excellence in volunteerism, as the point of contact for the Airmen Against Drunk Driving program. He has volunteered more than 600 hours to the program over the past two years.

The 25-year-old Airman also has a busy family life. He said his wife has always been supportive of his athletic endeavors, even with their 1-year-old twins at home. His wife is currently activated in the 349th Air Mobility Wing, adding the need to coordinate childcare during work hours.

Gunter said he gets his strong work ethic from his single mother.

"Seeing my mom raise six kids and working three jobs and still giving us that needed love and support taught me about dedication, hard work and love," he said. "She later remarried, but her example during those years motivates me to be the best I can be."

Gunter said he has given himself until age 30 to make the All Air Force men's basketball team again, and this time be able to play.

"I still have a few more years to work hard," he said. "My goal is to work hard and get a (basketball) contract, and with hard work, it can happen."