Their favorite year: 1993 was a golden year for the 'Golden Dozen'

By all accounts, 1993 was a banner year for 12 Airmen. It began with a banquet in their honor where senior Air Force leaders, important civilians and a host of high-level dignitaries toasted and named them the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year.

It ended with hugs, handshakes and friendships forged for the rest of their careers. It was a year that changed their lives.

"Being Airman of the Year changes you," said Maj. Dwight Lisle. In 1993, he was a senior airman medical equipment technician who didn't know the outstanding Airman program existed when his supervisor sent him to meet a base-level recognition board.

"You get a perspective on the Air Force a lot of your peers don't get to see," he said. "But I think the most significant thing was the common bond we [the Airmen of the year] shared. We were brought together for the award, and it was the thing we had in common."

Every year, the Air Force recognizes 12 enlisted people for their professionalism, community service and self-improvement efforts. The Airmen are nominated through base-level, then command-level, recognition programs like Airman of the quarter boards.

After selection, the "Golden Dozen" serve as traveling ambassadors and role models for Airmen to emulate. They speak at Airman leadership school graduations, attend recognition events and serve on the Air Force Enlisted Council as advocates for improvements to enlisted quality of life programs.

After a year of service, the Airmen typically go back to their career fields and continue their Air Force lives. Some groups stay in touch. Others don't. It depends on how well they "gel."

"We were lucky," said Capt. Jeffrey Woffinden, a staff sergeant in 1993 when he was selected. "We weren't the '12 outstanding egos of the year.' Every one of us thought it was an honor to be selected, and we gelled around that idea. We were very focused on our responsibilities as representatives of the Air Force's 'ideal Airmen.'"

The group was most effective as part of the enlisted issues council, said Chief Master Sgt. Michael Wysong, now an Air Force Reserve Command loadmaster superintendent at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J.

"We really focused on improving the lives of our fellow Airmen," he said. "Each of us felt immense responsibility to make sure our leaders in the military and the government knew what Airmen needed in their lives. We focused on issues like pay and quality of life, and we were very determined to make a difference."

The four council meetings were the only times the Airmen were together as a group, but the friendships they formed took root. When they got together, they shared stories of life representing the Air Force, and the challenges they faced. Those stories became the glue that held them together.

"One thing we had in common was how the Airmen in the field perceived us," said Major Lisle, now a recruiting service site commander in Arlington, Texas. "Most people were very positive about it, and wanted to hear what we had to say. But some weren't so positive. There were people who assumed we were all a bunch of prima donnas. That's not always easy to take, and we all experienced it."

For then-Staff Sgt. Jerry Lewis and then-Senior Airman Sherrie French, the connection was deeper. After their tenure was over, the two were assigned to Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., where they began dating. They married a couple years later and are now assigned to Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii.

Today, Senior Master Sgt. Lewis and Tech. Sgt. Lewis both put the Airman of the year honor high on their list of career highlights. It also gets credit for not only bringing the two of them together, but for also helping their careers.

"I honestly don't think I would have achieved as much as I have had it not been for being an OAY," she said. "It opened a lot of doors for us."

After their tenure as Airmen of the year, the 12 went their separate ways. Captain Woffinden and Major Lisle eventually went to officer training school and earned their commissions. Chief Wysong stayed at McGuire and plans to retire in a couple years. The Lewis' built a family. A couple have retired.

The captain became the group's unofficial "social director," using e-mail to keep in touch and keep communication going. They share updates in their lives, occasionally discuss issues, swap ideas and generally check in with each other to see what's happened since 1993.

"Every now and then, I'll see an e-mail from someone in the group, or a message to everyone," Chief Wysong said. "It's kind of like meeting up with old school buddies. You get to find out what's happened to everyone."

Chief Master Sgt. Trenda Voegtle, a master sergeant in 1993, said the selection helped her move forward in her career, but she puts it in perspective.

"My selection allowed for many growth opportunities and contributed to my future success and first-time up selections for senior master sergeant and chief master sergeant. But it wasn't the only reason," she said. "I think it's important for current and future 12 OAYs to know they can't rely on this one award for all future successes."