Airman 1st Class Leah Young admits that her generation is filled with people with a heightened sense of entitlement.

"It's a very ‘give-it-to-me' mentality," said the 21-year-old Pittsburgh, Pa., native.

It's also a mentality she refuses to identify with.

"I embrace responsibility," she said.

That attitude and determination was acknowledged recently as Young, a 62nd Airlift Wing public affairs specialist at McChord Field, was named the first Air Mobility Command Chief Airman of the Week.

"Chief (Master Sgt. Andy) Kaiser called me personally to tell me about the award," Young said. "I was very surprised and blown away."

The award noted Young's effort to keep Airmen, retirees and family members safe and informed by consistently updating the wing's website and social media site with the latest weather conditions during the massive snowstorm that hit the Puget Sound recently.

"(Young) documented the storm's aftermath, clean up efforts, as well as captured JBLM Airmen who kept the mission going despite austere conditions," wrote the chief on his Facebook page. "A previous AMC Public Affairs Award Winner and current President of the 62 AW Rising Four, A1C Young continues to far exceed expectations of her rank."

Young navigated the base's snowy roads to capture images from the storm and constantly kept in contact with the few who made it into work to inform site visitors of the changing conditions.

"My favorite part of everything was seeing the effects of what I do," she said. "I let people know how bad (conditions at) the base were. I was writing a story that makes a difference."

Young joined the Air Force right after graduating high school. While most of her friends were staying around Pittsburgh, she wanted something different. "I've always been more independent," she said.

While she's been in the Air Force, Young is grateful for the opportunities she's had to learn her craft. She recently got a chance to interview Chief Kaiser during his visit to McChord Field.

"He was very inspiring and genuine. It was an honor to talk to him for as long as I got to," she said. And while several of her opportunities to further her career have come in kind of "sink or swim" situations, Young has made sure to tackle things head-on.

"I'm not intimidated by (new) things," she said. "I don't think I could have gotten any better opportunities than I've had here at McChord."