NEVADA AIR NATIONAL GUARD Base, Nev. -- RENO, Nev. - The Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Ondra Berry presented the Silver Sentinel Award to Master Sgt. Janalee Morris on June 11, 2021 at the Nevada Air National Guard Base. Morris was presented the award for her exemplification of the State Strategic Priorities and The Adjutant General’s expectations of leaders and his non-negotiables.
Readiness
She is at the forefront of Full Spectrum Readiness. She currently serves as the 152nd Medical Group and Chemical Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High Yield Explosive Enhanced Response Force Package (CERF-P)’s Readiness and Training Noncommissioned Officer in Charge. In this position, she is responsible for managing over 1,000 individual training requirements for 102 medical personnel and executing day-to-day training events within the unit. She collects, tracks and generates reports required by NGB/JSG that include TFTR, AFTR, MRDSS and MAARS ensuring the 47-member medical team is 100% trained allowing them to respond to a CBRN incident within a 6-hour notice.
Care for members and families
Morris manages a section of 23 medical personnel. Under her leadership, she ensures those members are not only trained, qualified, and mission ready to support, but also provides continual feedback to ensure personal growth.
Diversity and inclusion
Morris is an assigned facilitator for the Medical Group for annual resiliency. She creates open dialogue between all ranks, enlisted and officer. She plays a key role in the unit--making sure everyone gets equal opportunities to succeed within their job and in their personal life.
Community
She has been involved in serving her community her entire military career. She annually participates in “Shop with a Hero” and regularly donates clothing and non-perishable food items to local Women’s Shelters.
Servant leadership
Morris ensures all subordinates receive all necessary assets and training for career and mission success. She sets the example and abides by the “talk the talk and walk the walk” mentality. As she has risen through the ranks and responsibility, she has not forgotten how to inspire Airmen and always finds the time needed to mentor and grow the next level of leadership. She always presents her leadership style in actions and expectations.
Third generation military member.
“One might think that it was meant to be my future,” said Morris. “I never thought so until I grew up, had a beautiful baby boy, and then realized I had no clue about the career path I wanted. I had dropped out of high school at an early age—one day I woke up and took a hard look at the life I was living and decided that my child and I deserved better.”
After getting her GED and collecting a standard high school diploma and becoming a certified nurse’s assistant, she took her father’s advice and joined the Nevada Air National Guard.
The Nevada Air National Guard is like a second family.
Morris never anticipated that her small family would become a much larger family—in the Nevada Air National Guard.
“Little did I know then that I would find my second family, and I did within the Nevada Air National Guard. I have made so many lifetime friends. The ones who when they say, “I got your six,” you know in your soul they mean it, and you would do the same for them.”
Base events matter to everyone.
“My first impression of the Nevada Air National Guard came through the family events that occuur annually on the base. I always knew that on Easter there would be an egg hunt. Halloween was always a blast (Aerial Port always won the contest) and for Christmas every child got a present. My first impression of this base was that it is extremely family oriented.”
Col. Erik Stach, the 152nd Medical Group Commander is also impressed with her ability to think strategically.
“Tech. Sgt. Morris is a proven leader with diverse experience and the highest degree of integrity and work ethic,” he said, “she promotes a positive organizational climate free of harassment and prejudice, her personality and professionalism is influential far beyond her peers. Her work across multiple organizational lines exemplifies her appreciation for the power of unity of effort. As her years of exceptional performance has demonstrated, Technical Sergeant Morris can see “big picture” requirements and execute them using our entire team.”
Dedicated to excellence and high standards.
“We lost my grandfather last September after losing his very long battle with an asortment of health issues,” she said. “He and my father would always let me know how proud of me they were and they both wanted to see me take on an officer position, since they were both enlisted. They taught me so much about what a real leader is--I will always strive to make them proud.”