513th Reservist named ‘Athlete of Year’

  • Published
  • By Mike Way
  • Tinker Take-off
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Senior Master Sgt. Jeremy Allen of the 513th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron has been named the Tinker Air Force Base "Athlete of the Year" for 2012.

The honoree was chosen for his "long-time participation in Armed Forces Rugby, working as the strength and conditioning coach for the University of Oklahoma rugby team, involvement in base intramural sports, and squadron physical fitness and mentoring," said Col. Jeffrey J. McGalliard, commander of the 513th Air Control Group.

This is the second time a member of the 513th ACG, and the fourth time a member of the Air Force Reserve, has won the award, noted Lt. Col. Ralph Hawkins, 513th ACG executive officer and commissioner of Tinker's Spring Flag Football League.

The selection was made by a committee of 72nd Air Base Wing personnel. Sergeant Allen, who is deployed to Southwest Asia, was notified of the honor recently via email.

The sergeant has been a member of the Air Force rugby team since 1999, and on several occasions has been a member of the Combined Services All-Star Team. Locally he plays for the Crusaders of Oklahoma City, a Texas Rugby Union club that won the Division 3 title last year and now plays in Division 2.

Typically the sergeant has rugby practice on Tuesday and Thursdays, and plays the games on Saturdays. "The rugby season is year-round minus a few weeks during the winter," he said.

Sergeant Allen is OU's forwards coach "and I mentor those players in matters of overall fitness," he said. The sergeant has "been a part of OU rugby" since 2001.

Sergeant Allen also mentors members of the 513th ACG and his deployed unit, the 380th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron/SENTRY, in all matters of wellness and physical fitness. "I've helped out with meal planning, as well as setting up lifting and running routines," he said. "I've helped multiple members not only pass their PT tests but maintain their overall fitness year-round."

Sergeant Allen said he lifts weights six days a week, and does cardio workouts four days a week. "I run, bike and row," he said. In addition, "I enjoy multiple types of lifting: Olympic lifting, powerlifting, bodybuilding and Cross fit. I enjoy mixing up all the styles. I believe it makes you a better athlete overall."
He ran in the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon last year, has been playing in Tinker's flag football league for seven years, and has been a member of two top-5 base bowling teams, "where I maintained a 199 average," he reported.

Sergeant Allen, 39, has served in the Air Force for 19 years. He is the 513th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron's Specialist Flight Chief; in that role he is responsible for "all things required to run a Reserve unit," including budget, staffing and training. "All personnel decisions for the Specialist Flight go through me," he said.

The LaCrosse, Wis., native is married, and he and his wife, Adrienne, have a 3-year-old daughter, Madyson.

Senior Master Sgt. Allen is "a shining example of what makes the 513th Air Control Group a special place to come to work," Colonel McGalliard said. "He is among my small group of superstar SNCOs maintaining the E-3, voluntarily deployed to CENTCOM as we speak, and constantly looking for ways to demonstrate his strong roots in the local community. His real forte is as mentor-leader on the athletic field, whether as part of the OU Rugby Team coaching staff or quietly helping one of our own improve their fitness test scores. We're lucky to have him."

Of the three Reservists who previously won the award: Tech. Sgt. Brian Finley is assigned to the 513th Maintenance Squadron, Maj. James Mattey is stationed at the Pentagon, and Maj. Robert Atkins is stationed at Scott AFB, Ill.