Four Turn Tours Of Duty Into Tours Of Service

Two members of the Air National Guard, a Marine and a sailor were named Armed Forces Persons of the Year this week by the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce.

They were chosen from a list of 15 nominees among the active duty and reserve forces, based on their service records and community service. The winners of the annual awards are:

Senior Airman Eric Kelsey, a maintenance specialist with the Washington Air National Guard’s 141st Refueling Wing. Kelsey is the state Airman of the Year and has been active in the guard’s blood donation programs, roadside cleanup activities and tuition-assistance programs. He’s a member of the guard booster program and a volunteer musician at Connell Church of the Nazarene.

Tech. Sgt. Michael Brickert, a security police chief for the guard’s 141st Security Police Squadron. Brickert, a resident of Leavenworth, is a former Citizen of the Year, a coordinator of the Chelan County sheriff’s posse, dive team and snowmobile search and rescue team. He’s a veteran of Desert Storm, where he served as driver and bodyguard for the commander of allied forces.

Sgt. Michael Curlee, a recruiter with the Marine Corps Spokane substation. Curlee, a recipient of several military commendations and a veteran of Desert Storm, is an umpire for Spokane Little League and works with youth, teaching motivational classes at the Church of the Nazarene in Spokane. In less than a year, he has enlisted 21 Marines.

Petty Officer 1st Class James Shafer, the senior medical department representative for the Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Readiness Center. Shafer, who was named sailor of the year at the center last year, coordinates regular blood drives, serves on the Red Cross disaster services committee and volunteers for Junior Bloomsday and the Marines’ Toys for Tots drive.

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