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JBSA News
NEWS | Aug. 29, 2008

Lackland chiefs share expectations with staff selects

By Patrick Desmond 37th Training Wing Public Affairs

Lackland chief master sergeants held an expectation briefing Aug. 21 at Bob Hope Performing Arts Theater, introducing senior airmen to the prospects before them in their new rank of staff sergeant and distinction as NCOs. 

Along with their congratulations, Chief Master Sgts. Paul Weseloh, Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency, Frederick Kerzic, 543rd Inspector General command chief, Terry Harford, 37th Medical Group, Danny Herndon, 59th Clinical Support Group, Michael Moore, 67th Information Operations Group, David Groff, 37th Mission Support Group and David Green, 59th Medical Wing, outlined goals of the transition to the Airmen's designated first earned rank. 

The chiefs' expectations of the staff sergeants selects were delivered by each chief pertaining to a particular topic: back to basics, knowing and understanding your subordinates, coalition operations with other military branches and nations, career expectations, education and finance. 

The definitive demarcation identified by all chiefs was that of the change to a role of leadership, as Airmen assume the new role of supervisor and subsequent responsibility. 

"Today you're an Airman, soon you're going to be an NCO. You're going to have to make that transition from Airmen - from being a buddy - to being a supervisor and having that subordinate-supervisor relationship," Chief Hartford said. 

The transition to NCO is also dominated by not only the increase of responsibility and their need to understand their subordinates, but the continuance of education through the Airmen Leadership School and living as a paradigm of the Air Force core values.

"Now you're part of a different team, part of the leadership team. As an NCO you have to live the core values every single day. The end component of the core values at the end of the day is your actions, not just your words," Chief Green said. 

Along with delivering expectations of the Airmen, the chief master sergeants congratulated each promotee as they entered the auditorium and placed the rank-distinguishing medallion over their heads. The Airmen optimistically consider their new role in the Air Force. 

"We're stepping up from Airmen, where we were mainly a follower, and now taking on additional responsibilities to start leading younger Airmen. To me, it means a lot getting this far, this early in my career. It means the world to me and the world to my family," Senior Airman William Wood, 59th Dental Support Squadron, said. 

"The respect and responsibility that comes along with the new stripe, doing this as a career, that's huge, it's a huge step forward. So I'm looking forward to that," Senior Airman Robbie Arp, Air Force News Agency, said.