Salute to the military <br> for second consecutive year, a sailor from Keesler gets Fredian Award

Published Nov. 2, 2010
By Petty Officer 1st Class Matthew Burpee
Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- For the second consecutive year, a Sailor from Keesler's Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit was honored with the Thomas V. Fredian Community Leadership Award from the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce.

Petty Officer 1st Class Darius Sayers received the award Oct. 26 at the annual Salute to the Military at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum Convention Center in Biloxi.

The award is presented annually to an enlisted service member for professional performance and outstanding community involvement.

Petty Officer Sayer's professional performance is highlighted as a master training specialist in CNATTU's advanced calibration technician school where he teaches four units of college-level courses of instruction. He's the president of the command's morale, welfare and recreation committee and was hand-selected as the command volunteer coordinator. CNATTU'S 60 staff members and 250 students have performed 1,049 hours of community service in 90 separate events this year to date.

Petty Officer Sayer's direct leadership resulted in three Navy Southeast Region command awards -- first place in Campaign Drug Free, first place in Personal Excellence Partnership, and second Place in the health, safety and fitness category. Specific volunteer efforts aided Nichols Elementary School, the American Heart Association, Girl Scouts of America and the DeSoto National Forest's river cleanup.

More than 1,000 guests attended the event which featured Marine Corps Gen. James Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Another Keesler Sailor wins community leadership award