Squadron Feud rocks 20th MDG awards ceremony

Published Jan. 14, 2014
By Airman 1st Class Jonathan Bass
20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- The 20th Medical Group held an unusual quarterly awards ceremony here, Jan. 8.

In between awards being presented and received, the 20th MDG played rounds of Squadron Feud, a parody of the popular long-running game show, Family Feud, which has been running since 1976.

"We threw in something fun," said Airman 1st Class Therese Beeler, 20th Medical Operations Squadron medical technician. "Squadron Feud, like Family Feud, helps raise the morale of the group."

The medical group tried out this new formula in an attempt to bring new life into a very traditional Air Force event.

Beeler said that the incorporation of new ideas and new ways of organizing the ceremony with the older traditions of the Air Force works well because of the medical group's ability to maintain a professional atmosphere while still having fun.

"I think this turned out fantastic," said Senior Master Sgt. Rick Walker, 20th MDOS superintendent. "We started the themes two or three awards ago, and I think we've set the bar pretty high."

The idea to incorporate the game show came from Staff Sgt. Amanda Payne, 20th MDOS family health technician.

"It was her idea to do the game show theme," said Walker. "I just went along with her and let her run with it."

Fake prizes for the winning teams included: third place, an all-expenses paid trip to Venice, Italy, for two; second place, a brand new Hot Wheels 1974 Brazilian Dodge Charger; and a silver trophy cup filled with approximately one million fake dollars for first place.

With the success of this ceremony, maybe another group will try Wheel of Fortune next.