Honoring Our Heroes

Master Sergeant George A. Hill: Age 79

Master Sergeant (MSgt) George A. Hill served 20 years in the U.S. Air Force. His Air Force Specialty Code (811X2) Security Policeman. His awards, decorations, citations and medals included: Meritorious Service Medal with one device, Good Conduct Medal with five devices, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Medal with one device, NCO Professional Military Education Ribbon, Air Force Longevity Service Award with four devices, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with device. During his military service, he received many other decorations and commendations. Among those the Air University Military Citizen of the Year at Maxwell Air Force Base in 1976 and the Staff Sergeant of the Year award for Maxwell Air Force Base in 1976. In 1980, MSgt Hill attended the NCO Academy at Kessler, AFB, MS and received the military excellence award and drill excellence award while attending the NCO Academy.

Hill was born September 11, 1943, in Brazil, IN, to his parents, Charles A. Hill Sr. and Addie B. Hill. He was reared there and graduated from Brazil High School in 1961. Upon graduation he moved to St. Petersburg, FL and worked as a grocery stocking clerk for one year.

In July 1962, MSgt Hill enlisted in the U.S Air Force and reported to Lackland, AFB Texas, where he completed six weeks of basic training and ten weeks at the Security Police Training Academy where he graduated 3rd out of the class of 96. He was then transferred to the 341st Defense Squadron at Malmstrom, AFB, MT, for one year 1963-1964 protecting KC97s and the newly installed missile sites. MSgt Hill was selected for deployment to Osan Air Base, South Korea serving with the 6314th Air Police Squadron for 13 months. He then returned to the United States and served with the Law Enforcement Traffic Unit, 834th Air Police Squadron at Eglin AFB for four years 1965-1969. His second overseas deployment was to Ankara, Turkey, for two years 1969-1971 where he served in the security police unit issuing military IDs, Turkish military drivers licenses, and hunting licenses. His next assignment was to Minot AFB, ND, during which time he was charged with protecting the missile sites for seven months. He was then stationed at Hurlbert Field, FL, from 1971-1973 where he served as a non-commissioned officer (NCOIC) responsible for the arms and equipment section of the security police squadron. His 3rd overseas deployment was to KoKha Air Station in Thailand. During this deployment, he was the NCOIC of arms and equipment and the U.S. customs representative for eleven months. He returned to the United States to the 3800th Security Police Squadron at Maxwell, AFB at Montgomery, AL. He remained in the Security Police Squadron from 1974-1979 where he was the training NCOIC for the security police. In 1979, he was selected to be reassigned to the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) at Maxwell, AFB. He served as a Program Administrator where he evaluated security police worldwide for an associate degree in Criminal Justice. MSgt Hill received a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from Troy State University in 1979. MSgt Hill retired from military service October 31, 1982.

MSgt Hill's conclusions from his military service were, "First and foremost, I could receive a higher education. If I had not enlisted in the Air Force, I would have probably never had this opportunity to better myself in my civilian life. I appreciated all my working experiences in the Air Force but especially my time at CCAF."

After his military service, MSgt Hill worked as the Testing Coordinator in the Education Office at Maxwell AFB for two years. During these two years, MSgt Hill received his Masters Degree in Criminal Justice Administration and began working on the Education Specialist degree at Troy State University in Montgomery. MSgt Hill continued with his higher education at AUM in the Public Administration Program. He was then hired as the Assistant Registrar at Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) where he worked at AUM for 20 years beginning as Assistant Registrar and then retiring as Senior Director of Enrollment Service and University Registrar in 2004. He was then hired as a consultant to work at AUM for two years in the Student Enrollment Registration Program. His final employment was as part time manager of Blue Ridge Antiques in Wetumpka, AL, for seven years during 2011-2018.

During his tenure at AUM, MSgt Hill was a member of the following organizations. The Alabama Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers (ALACRAO), the Southern Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers (SACRAO) and the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers (AACRAO). He taught many conference sessions at these annual meetings on safety and security in a college setting. He was elected and served as president of ALACRAO, 1993-1994. He was also the advisor of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity at AUM for three years. He was inducted into both Omicron Delta Kappa and the Phi Kappa Phi honorary societies.

MSgt Hill and his wife, Tricia, have five children, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. They are members of Frazer Church in Montgomery, AL, where he serves as a co-teacher of the Living Today Sunday School Class and teaches a monthly Older Men's Bible Study Group.