CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
A third Team Charleston Airman recently earned a Stripes for Exceptional Performers promotion.
Tech. Sgt. Timothy Hammond of the 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron was presented his new stripes by Col. John "Red" Millander, 437th Airlift Wing commander, during the wing promotion ceremony Dec. 31.
"I had no idea that I was going to be promoted until the moment the commander presented my stripes to me on stage," said Sergeant Hammond. "The promotion was a complete shock and I was speechless."
Sergeant Hammond is a maintenance special operations propulsion systems craftsman. He is a member of a team that maintains Charleston AFB's Joint Chief's of Staff aircraft.
Earning the STEP promotion was one thing, but getting Sergeant Hammond to attend the promotion ceremony was another.
"I was told that I may receive a congratulatory letter from the commander for the recent birth of my two sons," said Sergeant Hammond. "I assumed that was the reason for being called up on stage but after receiving the congratulatory letter he continued to give me the STEP promotion."
In a memorandum put out by Gen. Norton Schwartz, Air Force chief of staff, it says that only 310 STEP quotas will be allocated for 2009 and that ideal candidates are those who are outstanding performers with average time-in-service compared to their peers.
Sergeant Hammond never would have received the STEP promotion without the support of his supervisor, Staff Sgt. Monte Dixon, who is also a C-17 maintenance special operations propulsion system specialist with the 437 AMXS.
"One trait that set Sergeant Hammond apart from his peers was consistently being the go-to-guy," said Sergeant Dixon. "Being the go-to-guy means that you could go to Sergeant Hammond for almost anything and, without doubt, know you would receive first-class results."
Nominating Sergeant Hammond for the STEP promotion was an easy decision said Sergeant Dixon.
"The decision was an easy one; he set the criteria -- no discipline infractions ever, training always completed on time, reliable, consistently delivers results, a team-minded individual that puts everyone before himself," he said.
One thing Sergeant Hammond never expected was to out rank his own supervisor.
"It was an honor to have helped Sergeant Hammond assume the rank of technical sergeant," said Sergeant Dixon. "Sergeant Hammond now out ranks me as I'm a technical sergeant select."
The STEP guidelines state that the STEP program allows for commanders with a large enlisted population to select a limited number of Airmen with exceptional potential for promotion to the grades of staff sergeant through master sergeant once in their career.