Neillsville woman, and employer, honored for service to the Guards

By Pat McKnight of the Banner-Journal

An area National Guard member and the company she works for have been recognized with the 2007 George W. Bush Outstanding Employees Supporting Traditional Air National Guard Members award for their support of the National Guard.

In a Washington D. C. ceremony held by the Air Force Association (AAFA) Sept. 25, Alice Sischo of Neillsville was recognized for her service to her unit while deployed in Operation Enduring Freedom in the spring of 2006.  Her employer, Kwik Trip, Inc. (KT) was also recognized for the support it gives to its National Guard employees and other members of the military. 

In the spring of 2006, Sischo was deployed to Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait.  During her deployment, she served as the first sergeant for the 386^th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron.

As part of her service to her unit, Sischo organized hospitality services such as room-mate assignments, camp cleanup and base beautification, medical appointment escorts and organization of hometown newspaper stories of the airmen.

For her efforts, she was selected the 115 Fighter Wing First Sergeant of the Year and the military liaison of the year by the State Family Program.

Master Sergeant Sischo brought the skills she used while deployed to her position as food service leader for the convenience store in Black River Falls.  The skill she developed during her deployment Sischo applied to her position as food service leader for KT.  Using those skills, she "set about improving the organization" of the deli department at the Black River Falls store.

In a release issued by Kwik Trip nominating Sischo, the company commended their employee for "making the changes to improve the organization of the deli."

The company’s nomination went on to say, "Alice Sischo is willing to go the extra mile to foster teamwork not only with the deli staff but the C-Store as well.  By looking at both sides of the equation, she has been able to bridge the gap between the two areas.  It took extra hours to get the team turned around, and Alice comes in early and stays late to make sure she is setting the example of expectations and touching base with all shifts."

Kwik Trip supported Sischo during her deployment by arranging to have her shifts covered during her deployment and to keep all her full vacation time.

The convenience store company also supported the members of the armed forces by sending care packages to Kuwait, sponsored a fundraiser for the soldiers’ families, and Sischo’s fellow employees kept in contact with her spouse during her deployment.

Only one enlisted guard member and one officer could be nominated from each state for the award.  The awards were presented to 37 nominees at the AFA conference.