340th FTG employee, veteran honored as September Hidden Hero

  • Published
  • By Debbie Gildea
  • 340th Flying Training Group

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-Randolph, Texas – Anthoney Smith, 340th Flying Training Group lead travel administrator and Air Force veteran from the civil engineer field, was honored Sept. 15 by the Schertz-Cibolo-Selma Chamber of Commerce and Military Affairs Council as the September Hidden Hero during a ceremony and luncheon held Sept. 15 at the Schertz Civic Center.

The MAC Hidden Heroes program exists to honor military members and veterans for their contributions to defense, as well as to the local base and civilian communities, committee chair Ivory Freeman explained.

Smith, whose commitment to the mission and safety of the operational forces while an active duty civil engineer NCO at operational flying bases earned him respect and allegiance from operators, maintainers and leadership. This father of three young men, following separation from active duty, sought additional opportunities to serve and found his perfect match in the finance directorate for the Air Force’s largest flying group – the 340th Flying Training Group.

As the group's most knowledgeable member regarding all things official travel, his devotion and commitment to mission are evident in his efforts to inform and educate the hundreds of Reserve pilots assigned at seven different bases across the country on travel issues that are far more complex than routine Air Force travel. In addition to selfless service to his team, Smith is a routine volunteer at the San Antonio foodbank, and local humane society events.

His work ethic is equal only to his love for others, and his contributions to the group directly enable Reserve instructor pilots to commit themselves to their flying mission, his commander said.