UA To Honor Air Force Staff Sergeant With Legendary Service Award

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The University of Alabama Online has announced it will present its 2022 Legendary Service Award to Air Force Staff Sgt. Sarah Neal, who will now receive a tuition grant for online courses at UA.

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UA says Neal enlisted as a reservist when she was 22 years old, but opted instead to become active duty once she saw the search and rescue mission at Patrick Space Force Base in Brevard County, Florida.

“If there’s a cruise ship that needs help or someone overboard that needs [to be] rescued, we’re deployed,” she said. “We protect our allies if a plane goes down and we support local hurricane rescue efforts. Once I became part of this mission, that’s when I realized how amazing the military really is, and that’s what made me become active duty.”

She went on to become part of the airfield flight equipment crew in 2018, helping maintain critical equipment for aircrews. What's more, Neal will receive a promotion to the rank of technical sergeant in December.

As for other accolades, Neal has also been honored as the noncommissioned officer of the quarter at the wing level at her base and nominated for Aircrew Flight Equipment NCO of the Year for the entire U.S. Air Force.

Also a mother of a newborn who still finds time to volunteer, Neal has organized a local “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” 5K, which raises awareness of rape, sexual assault and gender violence.

“I’m big on things for the local community,” Neal said. “I feel like there’s so many organizations that I want everybody to be a part of, and I try to get as much coordinated as I can.”

Neal will be honored at Bryant-Denny Stadium when Alabama hosts Austin Peay on Saturday, Nov. 19.

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