AETC announces 2008 Noncommissioned Officer Association Vanguard Award winner Published March 6, 2008 RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Air Education and Training Command officials recently announced the 2008 Noncommissioned Officer Association Vanguard Award winner: The command selected Senior Master Sgt. Michael Stephenson-Pino, 383rd Training Squadron, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. On July 29, 2007, Sergeant Stephenson-Pino was on an outing at Lake Arrowhead outside Wichita Falls, Texas. While in the water, Sergeant Stephenson-Pino witnessed a 10-year old boy and an adult male being launched around 12 feet in the air from a cigar-shape tube on which they were riding. This happened after the nose of the tube suddenly caught a boat wake and buckled in the middle. The adult flew forward, striking the boy's hip with his head, consequently, both were thrown in separate directions 20 feet apart, disappearing under the water. The adult male surfaced face down and was bobbing on the surface of the water, motionless. Sergeant Stephenson-Pino swam over to the adult male, rolled him over on his back and restored respirations by opening his airway. He ensured the adult male remained breathing and secured him under his right arm. With the unconscious adult in tow, Sergeant Stephenson-Pino swam toward the still struggling 10-year old boy and calmed him. He then rolled over on his back and swam with both victims until a boat made its way to them to aid in the rescue. Both victims were sent to the hospital and released. Had Sergeant Stephenson-Pino not reacted as he did, the adult male would have drowned and the child may have suffered the same consequences. The command congratulates Sergeant Stephenson-Pino for his heroic act.