ARPC Airman represents Reserve command for leadership award

  • Published
  • By Mike Molina
  • Editor
DENVER --  The Air Force Reserve Command's only active-duty paralegal will represent AFRC in competition for the 2009 Lance P. Sijan Air Force Leadership Award.

Tech. Sgt. Lee Feldhausen of the Air Reserve Personnel Center, here, was recently named the AFRC winner of the Sijan leadership award.

"I enjoy being a paralegal. It is essential to the warfighter," Sergeant Feldhausen said. "From rules of engagement to operations law, there are many examples of why it's important."

The Sijan award annually recognizes Airmen who demonstrate outstanding leadership abilities.

"I think Sergeant Feldhausen is the perfect candidate for the award," said Col. Joseph Treanor, ARPC's Judge Advocate. "Sergeant Feldhausen embodies the determination and focus to go above and beyond and do whatever it takes to get the mission accomplished."

Sergeant Feldhausen has been an Air Force paralegal for nine years and has served in ARPC's staff judge advocate for nearly three years.

He provides legal assistance to the total force population at ARPC and throughout the Air Force, including: active duty, Air National Guard, reservists and retired Airmen. He also manages all Reserve Officer Training Corps legal interns in the Air Force's Judge Advocate General Educational Delay Program.

In April, Sergeant Feldhausen was selected to attend Officer Training School in Maxwell, Ala. He was one of 308 people selected out of 865 applicants considered by the Air Force's OTS board.

"I want to continue to be the best Airman I can be for the Air Force," he said.

Sergeant Feldhausen also said he's grateful for the mentorship he's received throughout his Air Force career and attributes success to keeping a positive outlook.

"Maintain a positive attitude and recognize every blessing - it erases negativity," he said.

The Lance P. Sijan award was named in honor of the first U.S. Air Force Academy graduate to receive the Medal of Honor.

Captain Sijan was shot down over Vietnam Nov. 9, 1967, and evaded capture for 45 days despite severe injuries. He later died while in a Vietnamese prisoner-of-war camp and was presented the Medal of Honor posthumously for his heroism.