Saturday, November 29, 2014

MDDF Officer Receives Prestigious Volunteer Service Award

By MAJ (MDDF) Stephen Rice
Maryland Defense Force Public Affairs
29 November 2014

Earlier this year, Maj. (MDDF) Jacob Gerstein of the Maryland Defense Force (MDDF)’s 10th Medical Regiment was awarded the Excellence in Federal Career Gold Award in the Volunteer Service (Individual) category from the Baltimore Federal Executive Board. This award honors federal employees that have demonstrated “outstanding volunteer service” over a twelve-month period. Maj. Gerstein was recognized for his noteworthy volunteer service with the Maryland Defense Force and with the Civil Air Patrol (CAP).


Maj. (MDDF) Gerstein also currently serves with the rank of major in the Civil Air Patrol and is assigned to their National Headquarters as part of CAP’s National History Staff. The Civil Air Patrol is the United States Air Force Auxiliary whose missions are to promote aerospace education, train CAP cadets and provide emergency services when necessary. During the award period, Maj. (MDDF) Gerstein served as a public affairs officer within CAP’s Maryland Wing and worked diligently to raise the organization’s profile. He drafted articles, took pictures and helped to maintain websites to educate the public about CAP’s activities and accomplishments.


As an officer with the MDDF’s 10th Medical Regiment, Maj. (MDDF) Gerstein often provides staff operational support during medical missions. He has participated in missions as varied as the 10th Medical Regiment’s support of nationally-recognized triathlons in Cambridge to the regiment’s support of the 100th anniversary Boy Scout Camporee in Cockeysville. “He is a superb state military officer and he adds value to each mission,” noted Brig. Gen. (MDDF) Brian R. Kelm, the commanding general of the MDDF. He continued, “Maj. Gerstein is an asset to the MDDF, the Civil Air Patrol and the federal workforce. Wherever he is, he works hard to add value and he is very deserving of this prestigious honor.”

The Maryland Defense Force (MDDF) is the State’s uniformed volunteer military unit providing professional and technical assistance to the Maryland Military Department. Established in 1917, the MDDF consists of nearly 450 personnel who perform legal, engineering, finance, medical, chaplain, field support and ceremonial services for the State of Maryland. For more information: www.mddf.maryland.gov.