Chapel student ministry NCO wins chaplain assistant award

Published Feb. 15, 2012
By Steve Hoffmann
81st Training Wing Public Affairs

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Staff Sgt. Tawny Crutcher, 81st Training Wing noncommissioned officer in charge of student ministry, is the recipient of Air Education and Training Command's Charles R. Meier Award for outstanding chaplain assistant NCO for 2011.

Crutcher directed a $200,000 facility renovation and technical upgrades to religious education. She created and implemented a nonprior service student senior leader perspective. She eliminated wasteful procurement steps by streamlining and reorganizing the ordering of worship supplies.

Crutcher conducted 165 crisis intervention counseling sessions, helping Airmen maintain resiliency and spiritual fitness. In the Air Force's battle against suicide, Crutcher briefed 4,000 Airmen on suicide awareness and prevention playing an instrumental role in leading Keesler to zero suicides being reported for 2011.

Crutcher was the Air Force Sergeants Association's top recruiter garnering 306 new members. She also led the NPS student volunteer program and is involved in various other base and community volunteer organizations.