Two Airmen from Special Operations Command Africa (SOCAFRICA) swept top honors in the Stuttgart Area Top 3 Air Force Annual Awards for 2009.

Master Sergeant Ann Thompson, the unit's Network Enterprise Manager, was named Senior Enlisted of the Year, and her co-worker, Technical Sergeant Garrett Gardner, was named Junior Enlisted of the Year for his work as the unit's Tech Order non-commissioned officer.

The announcement was released at the end of January 2010 by the Stuttgart Military Community Air Force Top-3 Executive Council. According to personnel officials, the honors represent the first community-level annual awards for any Air Force enlisted member within U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM).

SOCAFRICA exercises operational control of Special Operations Forces within the command's area of responsibility in Africa, which includes 53 countries and more than 13 million square miles. The primary focus of the command is on Special Operations Forces missions that develop African partner capacity, provide assistance and support theater security cooperation objectives.