CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
If you asked me about my Air Force career and inquired about the types of jobs I would most likely have, other than being a loadmaster, I would have never listed being the acting First Sergeant of the 14th Airlift Squadron.
I have always had a general idea of what first sergeants do, but let me begin by telling you what motivated me to step up and be the first sergeant for my squadron. The 14 AS deployed last year and due to unforeseen circumstances was unable to take our squadron's diamond wearing first sergeant. We knew someone else would be going in their place and wondered who it may be. It was not long before we were told that we were taking the medical group first sergeant. He arrived to our commander's call and right away grabbed our attention with his motivational chants and his love for the occupation; he was happy to be deploying with us. This was unusual since he had never met any of us and had no idea what he volunteered for up to this commander's call. He had not been a first sergeant for long but it was evident that he had a passion for people and that is all we needed to know. As I listened to him speak, I thought to myself, this guy has no idea what he has gotten himself into deploying with this group of people. Not that we were bad, just it is a squadron of 168 individuals with 168 different needs.
We soon arrived into the deployed location and together as a team began flying missions. I noted how our new first sergeant fit in so well, helping us get settled into our dorms, moving people around to accommodate flying schedules, dealing with people issues and just being an all around great influence on not only the enlisted force but officers and civilians alike. I noted how he dealt with base agencies to get things accomplished and how fast things moved when he got involved. It was not just because he had a diamond on his sleeve, it was because his approach to everything was one in which you wanted to help; you wanted to do and be your best. I sat in on counseling sessions with him and watched him mentor junior and senior people alike. It made me want to step up, if ever given the chance, and make that kind of impact. Not only did I learn how to do first sergeant duties but I learned how to be a Senior NCO and most of all a caring human being.
I took every opportunity to learn how to deal with issues and to help people. I remember saying to myself if I ever have the opportunity to be the first sergeant of this squadron, I am going to try my best to get it. When the opportunity arose that we needed a full-time acting first sergeant, I immediately went to the commander and asked him if I could be the new "Shirt."
As I go to the First Sergeant Council every week, I see more and more non-diamond wearing first sergeants out there, this could very easily be you in the near future.