JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas –
April 1st is typically a day for pranks and jokes, but for two Joint Base San Antonio staff sergeants, April Fools’ Day brought the surprise of a lifetime with on-the-spot promotions to technical sergeant that were no joke.
The Stripes for Exceptional Performers is a program which offers commanders the opportunity to immediately promote enlisted Airmen who are superior performers.
The entire 902nd Security Forces Squadron was recalled on April 1 for a building cleanup when Brig. Gen. Heather Pringle, 502nd Air Base Wing and JBSA commander, unexpectedly showed up at the squadron.
Pringle sent the message over the radio of a “perpetrator who was out of regs for wearing four stripes instead of five” and then began describing the “perpetrator’s” height, hair color and appearing to be “with child.”
“I was shocked and surprised when I realized she was describing me,” said Tech. Sgt. Angelina Simms, 902nd SFS base defense operations center controller. “I didn’t know what was happening.”
While Simms was surprised, her supervisor, Master Sgt. Leif Gisselberg, Air Education and Training Command Commander’s Action Group superintendent, was not surprised by the promotion.
“For any promotion, it’s not about what you’ve done, it’s about what we believe you can do in the future,” Gisselberg said. “From the very first day [I met her], there was something special in the way she conducted herself.”
Gisselberg said Simms immediately impressed him with her willingness and ability to speak up when she felt there was something wrong or to advocate on behalf of her troops.
“As a noncommissioned officer, it’s not about you anymore, it’s about the people and programs you’re leading,” Gisselberg said. “It was very clear from the beginning she was here for the team.”
Simms, who was inspired to join the Air Force by her brother who is also a security forces member, is proud to serve as a military police officer.
“I like that I can be the first one on scene to help people,” Simms said. “It makes me feel good that when people see the beret, they know what it stands for and they can come to you for help.”
Simms believes this STEP promotion will take her one step closer to achieving her future career goals.
“I would eventually like to make Chief [Master Sergeant],” Simms said. “I’m so thankful for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and for everyone who was involved.”
But Simms wasn’t the only JBSA member to be surprised with a STEP promotion.
Tech. Sgt. Elizabeth Corpus, 802nd Force Support Squadron professional military education instructor, was also promoted from staff sergeant in a surprise reveal two days after Simms.
After an organizational readiness inspection, Corpus led an open ranks uniform inspection. The first sergeant called the room to attention and Pringle walked in and made the announcement someone was out of uniform regulations.
After inspecting the troops, Pringle announced it was Corpus whose uniform was out of regulations.
Corpus’ heart sank.
It wasn’t until she noticed a former supervisor and his wife who still mentor her standing in the corner of the room that Corpus realized something big was happening.
Pringle and Chief Master Sgt. Brion Blais, 502nd ABW command chief, said the only way they could help Corpus was by giving her the stripes they had with them. It was at that moment Corpus realized she was being promoted to technical sergeant.
“I was so humbled by the thought that my leadership thinks I’m ready for this position,” Corpus said. “I’ve been blessed throughout my career to have leadership who have always supported me and pushed me out of my comfort zone to do better all the time.”
Corpus’ supervisors said they nominated her not because she was a good staff sergeant but because they believed she would be a great technical sergeant.
“She’s not your typical NCO,” said Senior Master Sgt. John Chacon, JBSA Airman Leadership School commandant. “She has a voice that needs to be heard and we needed to make her voice a little bit louder and your voice is a little louder as a technical sergeant.”
Tech. Sgt. Aaron Lee, ALS noncommissioned officer in charge, believes Corpus is a superior performer because she consistently goes above and beyond what is required of her.
“As a staff sergeant, she was in charge of programs the commandant would normally handle,” Lee said. “It’s important to operate at the rank you want to achieve, not the one you have, in order to reach your goals.”
Corpus believes having a plan is just as important as having goals.
“It’s not just about where you want to be but also how you want to get there,” Corpus said. “It’s good to dream big but a goal without a plan is just a dream. I want to be Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force one day, but I know I can only do that one stripe at a time.”
Her advice to other Airmen?
“Volunteer for something you really enjoy and helps others to be better,” Corpus said. “Go to school; your education is something that can never be taken away from you. Find the positive in all you do and make the best of every situation.”
Gisselberg also has some advice to all leaders and supervisors who consider nominating their Airmen for awards or promotions.
“When you see an opportunity to help make something good happen for good people, you have to seize the opportunity,” Gisselberg said. “You can’t be daunted by the task or have a defeatist attitude. Even if you don’t get it, you still owe it to your good people to try for them.”