CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
As a technical sergeant, I never considered becoming a first sergeant.
My goal was to make master sergeant and retire somewhere after 20 years. At that time, "career broadening" was a catch phrase, but retraining was rarely considered.
It was after I had been a master sergeant for a few years that I was notified I had been selected to apply for (as I affectionately put it) first sergeant special duty.
Now, after serving nearly three years as a shirt, I wouldn't change it for the world. As a first sergeant, I can honestly say I have learned, grown and am a better Airman for it. I know there are hundreds of potential first sergeants who haven't considered the duty because they don't know what a valuable experience it is.
To really grow as an Airman, you have to force yourself out of your comfort zone. What if your supervisor is a squadron or group commander and your mentor is the command chief master sergeant? What if you have 100, 200 or a thousand Airmen relying on you to make sure they are taken care of?
It should make you nervous, but if you think you can handle it, you may be the person for the job. So maybe you're not a master sergeant yet ... it just means you've got a little time to get used to the idea, so decide when you get the line number. But don't wait to prepare; the same development you need as an Airman is the same as you need for first sergeant duty.
Completion of the Senior NCO Correspondence Course is now required to receive a senior rater endorsement on a SNCO performance report. It's also required to apply for first sergeant special duty. A master sergeant select can enroll in the SNCO Correspondence Course and complete it before sewing on master sergeant.
A few other things you should be working on now include meeting fitness standards, exceeding dress and appearance standards and developing leadership skills. First sergeant special duty qualifications are common to your professional development, regardless of which career path you take.
There's a misconception that it's difficult to get promoted as a first sergeant. The truth is, first sergeants promote at the same percentages as the rest of the Air Force -- it's just a more competitive group. If you decide on first sergeant duty soon after sewing on master sergeant, it shouldn't slow you down. You could use the first couple years to gain first sergeant experience, so you are competitive when you become eligible for promotion.
First sergeant special duty is only a three-year tour with an option to extend. Nearly 85 percent of prior first sergeants succeed in promoting the first time after returning to their previous career field. With the breadth of experience you gain as a first sergeant, you will have a better chance of being promoted to chief master sergeant.
The experience is great for your career, but the greatest reward of being a first sergeant is that you will have a profound impact on the lives of so many people. The personal satisfaction you get when an Airman goes out of his way to say "thanks" is hard to describe.
With the professionalism of the Airmen today, first sergeant special duty should not be overlooked. Talk to your first sergeant, because not so many years ago the shirt was on the same side of the desk as you.