Pride of the Pack: Technical Sergeant Catherine Lobbestael

  • Published
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, South Korea --  Technical Sgt. Catherine Lobbestael from the 8th Medical Operations Squadron was selected as the 8th Fighter Wing's Pride of the Pack for the week of Jan.11. Each week, the 8th Fighter Wing commander recognizes one member of the Wolf Pack by awarding them with a Pride of the Pack certificate for their stellar commitment to excellence and superior mission accomplishment. Here is a letter from Sergeant Lobbestael's commander explaining her achievements. 

Letter from her commander:
I would like to recommend TSgt Catherine Lobbestael of the 8th Medical Operations Squadron for the Pride of the Pack Award. Sergeant Lobbestael has consistently made a positive impact throughout the group, wing and local community since she's been assigned at Kunsan Air Base. Immediately upon arrival in May 2007, she exemplified the Air Force's core values of, "Integrity first, Service before self, and Excellence in all we do." As the Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of Psychology Services, she quickly assumed a take charge role identifying issues affecting the delivery of patient care, resulting in the delivery of $379,000 in patient care services to Wolf Pack members. She ensured the standardization of eight administered psychological assessment tools, streamlined the security/PRP clearance process, and assumed the responsibility of screening 24 emergency patients presenting in crisis. Her assessment skills are always "spot-on" matching many a skilled/seasoned clinician. Time-after-time Sergeant Lobbestael presents herself as a skilled communicator and valued mentor, providing various briefings and trainings such as the Healthy Living Workshop, dating violence and alcohol awareness seminar at FTAC, and Stress Reduction training. 

Sergeant Lobbestael has recognized her need to expand her mental health skills by pursuing cross utilization training in the area of ADAPT's Substance Abuse Program. Without hesitation, she fully engaged herself in a training program acquiring the tools necessary to be an effective counselor and helping others' recognize the negative impact of substance misuse on themselves and the Wolf Pack's mission. She recently sought out training in Motivational Interviewing, an evidenced based treatment approach which enhances motivation to change.

Since Sergeant Lobbestael's arrival she has continued to enhance and improve her peers, the image of the Wolf Pack within the surrounding community, and herself both personally and professionally. She has been an active supporter of the wing's Team 5/6, involving herself in various professional enhancement programs, and has been an invaluable part in providing English language instruction to members of the ROK Army. She embodies the "Fit-to-Fight" motto scoring a 97.5% on her annual Physical Fitness Test, provides guidance to 91 members of the 8 MDOS as a Physical Training Leader, and has been instrumental motivating others in establishing a healthy year-round physical training regime.

Sergeant Lobbestael is the model Noncommissioned Officer and continually sets the example for others to follow. She has made impacting differences for the 8th Fighter Wing and the 8th Medical Group. She possesses a CCAF degree as well as pursuing a Bachelors Degree in Political Science. She exemplifies what a Noncommissioned Officer can do and will do to ensure the mission gets accomplished. Sergeant Lobbestael is deserving of the Pride of the Pack Award.