AMC announces O'Malley Award nominee Published March 30, 2004 SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Gen. John W. Handy, Air Mobility Command and U.S. Transportation Command commander, has announced AMC's nominee for the 2003 General and Mrs. Jerome F. O'Malley Award.Colonel and Mrs. Brooks Bash, 437th Airlift Wing, Charleston AFB, S.C., were chosen to represent AMC at the upcoming Air Force-level contest.The O'Malley Award is named in honor of the late General and Mrs. Jerome F. O'Malley, former Tactical Air Command commander. The award recognizes the wing commander and spouse whose contributions to the nation, Air Force and local community best exemplify the highest ideals and positive leadership of a military couple in a key Air Force position.According to General Handy, Colonel and Mrs. Bash's commitment to the people and the mission of Charleston Air Force Base led to this nomination."Their steadfast leadership in one of the Air Force's busiest airlift wings resulted in incredible accomplishments; over 72,000 hours flown and 390 million pounds of cargo and 158,000 passengers delivered in support of the Global War on Terrorism," he said.According to Colonel Bash, representing AMC for the O'Malley Award means a lot."MaryBeth and I are very honored to be named as the AMC O'Malley Award nominees," said Colonel Bash, who was recently selected for promotion to brigadier general. "At the same time, we are extremely proud of the accomplishments of Team Charleston, which enabled this recognition. Without the sacrifice, dedication and commitment shown by every Charleston Air Force Base member, this honor would not have been possible. From a personal perspective, I am especially pleased that MaryBeth's contributions have been formally recognized. The spouse's role in the military family is crucial to supporting our mission, yet often unsung."Mrs. Bash echoed her husband's thoughts."We feel very honored and very excited about the award; more for what it means for the wing than for ourselves personally," she said. "Charleston Air Force Base truly is one family, one mission, one fight."Mrs. Bash also said that family and fitness are important to the couple."Family is one of the most important things on this base. Having a positive impact on all family members is what it's all about," said Mrs. Bash. "Fitness is (also) really important to us. With things like the running track and spinning classes, Brooks and I have worked hard to be the catalyst to help the base get fit to fight, even before the Air Force fitness program changed.""The 'One Family, One Mission, One Fight' motto has been taken to heart by Colonel and Mrs. Bash," said General Handy."The wing motto represents the importance Charleston Air Force Base places on taking care of our people, accomplishing our task of safely operating the C-17, and our willingness to make sacrifices in order to defend our nation in a time of war," said Colonel Bash."'One Family' represents not only our active-duty Airmen but also the Reserve forces, our civilian employees, and especially the families who willingly endure the sacrifices of public service," the colonel said. "Indeed, the Charleston motto has truly become a way of life as our Charleston team members prove everyday they can successfully balance the needs of family, mission and sacrifice."Over the past few years, at any given time, over 20 percent of Charleston Airmen are deployed, representing nearly 80 percent of the entire wing over that time. Yet, Charleston continues to not only meet mission requirements but eclipse all previous achievements. If the wing motto was not a way of life, then Charleston's many significant accomplishments simply would not have been possible," said Colonel Bash.AMC's commanding general summed up the Bash's accomplishments and subsequent nomination."They are a shining example to all," said General Handy.