Retirement ceremony honors Master Sergeant Ronnie Dunker

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ A retirement ceremony was held for former Chester resident Master Sergeant Ronnie Dunker. The ceremony was held on June 19, 2009 at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7980 in Millstadt, IL.

Lt. Col. Michael A.?Romero Commander, 345th?Recruiting Squadron was the presiding Officer for the ceremony. The invocation was given by TSgt Clint Healey and welcoming comments were given by Lt. Col.?Romero.

Master Sergeant Dunker's military background includes:

Assignments: Sept. '89 - Oct. '89 basic military training at Lackland AFB in Texas; Oct. '89-Dec. '89 - technical training - Sheppard AFB, Texas; Jan. '89-Feb. '90 field training - Mt. Home AFB, Idaho; 1990-1991 - F-111B crew chief -?Edwards AFB, California; 1991-1998 F-15E crew chief - RAF Lakenheath, England, UK; 1998-2001 - enlisted accessions recruiter, Peoria, Illinois; 2001 - 2002 - squadron trainer - Milwaukee, Wisconsin; 2002-2003 flight chief, A flight - Rockford, Illinois; 2003-2005 - flight chief C flight, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin; 2005-2006 - flight chief, D flight - Fairview Heights, Illinois; 2006 - 2008 - senior trainer - Scott AFB, Illinois; 2008-2009- operations flight chief - Scott AFB, Illinois.

Master Sergeant Ronnie Dunker received many awards and decorations over the course of his military career. They are as follows: Air Force Meritorious Service Medal (3); Air Force Commendation Medal (2); Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal; Airmen Leadership,?Distinguished Graduate; Top Flight Recruiter - '00; Top Flight Supervisor - '02, '05; Senior Recruiter Badge, '00, '02, '04, '05; Master Recruiter - 00; Blue Suit XXII; Airmen of the Year - '95; Non-Commissioned Office of the Year - '06; NCO Academy Distinguished Graduate; Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year - '07, '08; Air Force Sergeants Association NCO of the Year - '06; Air Force Sergeants Association SNCO of the Year - '06; AFRS Lance P. Sijan Leadership Nominee, NCO - '04; AETC Lance P. Sijan Leadership Nominee, SNCO - '08; ?AFRS Langley Spirit Award - '08.

Master Sergeant Dunker's educational background consists of: B. S. Technical Management, DeVry -?Summa Cum Laude; A.A.S. - Human Resource Management, Community College of the Air Force; A.A.S. - Instructor Technology &?Military Science, Community College of the Air Force; Occupational Instructor Certificate, Community College of the Air Force; A.A.S. - Aircraft Systems Maintenance Technology, Community College of the Air Force.

"Everyone at the ceremony spoke very highly of him, you could tell that they loved and respected him," said Dunker's former Sunday School Teacher Collette Powley.

Dunker will now serve as an agent for Country Financial in Waterloo.

Master Sergeant Dunker is the son of Dave Dunker of Chester and Roberta and Rob Mallon of Waterloo.

"It is remarkable all the things he accomplished while in the military. Everything he tried he excelled at; he is a remarkable kid," said his father Dave.