Garr named Officer of the Year
Special to the Gazette
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Kansas National Guard’s 2009 Chief Warrant Officer of the Year has ties to Emporia.
Chief Warrant Officer 4 Jason Garr of Salina is the son of Dallas and Joyce Garr of Emporia. He grew up in Cottonwood Falls.
Garr, who serves as the tactical operations officer for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 108th Aviation, Kansas National Guard in Salina, received the award on April 18 at the Kansas National Guard Joint Conference. The award provides recognition for outstanding leadership, loyalty, initiative and public service displayed by a warrant officer.
Garr enlisted in the Kansas National Guard on May 16, 1987, as a utility helicopter repairman. He entered warrant officer candidate school and graduated in 1991. He attended flight school at Fort Rucker, Ala., to become a helicopter pilot. In addition to numerous military training schools and courses, Garr graduated from Fort Hays State University in 1994 with a bachelor’s degree in education.
Garr deployed twice with the 1st Battalion, 108th Aviation, first serving in Bosnia from 2002 to 2003 and in Iraq from 2006 to 2007. His military awards include a Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M Device, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon, NATO Medal, State Emergency Duty Service Ribbon, Master Aviator Badge, Aircraft Crewman Badge and Overseas Service Ribbon.
In his civilian capacity, Garr serves as a flight instructor at the Kansas National Guard Army Aviation Support Facility No. 2 in Salina.
Garr and his daughters, Katie and Megan, reside in Salina.
josiesbar (anonymous) says...
CW4 Garr -- "Hey General Bunting, I'm the best officer in the National Guard."
General Bunting -- "Right Chief, whatever you say, you got it."
May 7, 2009 at 11:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )