Minot defender named AFGSC Lance P. Sijan award winner

Published Dec. 1, 2016
By Senior Airman Kristoffer Kaubisch
Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Tech. Sgt. Joshua Willis, 5th Security Forces Squadron bravo flight assistant flight chief, arrived at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., in February and a few months later, he was named the Air Force’s Air Force Global Strike Command 2016 Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award winner in the junior enlisted category.

Willis will compete for the Air Force level award and be notified with results in January 2017.

First awarded in 1981, the Lance P. Sijan Award was established in honor of the first U.S. Air Force Academy graduate to receive the Medal of Honor. Sijan, a captain, was shot down over Vietnam Nov. 9, 1967.

The award recognizes those who have demonstrated the highest quality of leadership performance on and off duty.

Willis is responsible for 92 personnel who work in the weapons storage area, flightline and the base entrances.

“I was shocked when I found out I won the award,” said Willis. “I’m a tough guy, but honestly, I cried.”

Willis found out about his accomplishment while talking to his commander about his Officer Training School package submission.

“My commander pulled me into his office to review my package,” said Willis. “He started crossing stuff out on my package and I wondered what was happening, then he said that I was the AFGSC nominee for the Lance P. Sijan award.”

Willis was previously named the Sijan winner in 2014 at his last base, Anderson Air Force Base, Guam.

“I’m very humbled to win an award of this magnitude and be acknowledged for what I do,” said Willis.

He added that he is very hands-on with his defenders and makes sure he helps them succeed and accomplish their goals. Half of his flight has received their Community College of the Air Force degrees and have won awards at the squadron and wing levels.

“His leadership was key in garnering the Lance P. Sijan award, he is also a prime example of the whole Airman concept,” said Master Sgt. Kari Rattler, Willis’ supervisor. “He is an outstanding leader who is an exceptional mentor as well.”

According to Rattler, Willis’ care for his fellow defenders epitomizes his mentorship.

“I’m not a leader who is good at everything,” said Willis. “My strength is finding who is good at everything and putting them in the forefront to highlight them.”