DUKE FIELD, Fla. -- A group of seven 919th Special Operations Wing enlisted Airmen received uplifting news in September when they were notified of their selection for an instant promotion.
The Airmen were selected via the Air Force Reserve Stripes for Exceptional Performers II program. They stitched on their new ranks Oct. 1
The newly promoted Airmen are: Chief Master Sgt. Laurie Kent, Senior Master Sgt. Flor Contreras, Master Sgt.s Rachael Taylor, Annjill Transfiguracion, Kevin Sutphen, Wayne Chamberlin and Tech. Sgt. Bobbie Schmeltzer.
STEP II is designed to recognize exceptional performers for promotion to the grades of tech sergeant through chief master sergeant who would otherwise not be eligible for promotion due to lack of vacancies.
According to Chief Master Sgt. Brian Bischoff, the 919th SOW command chief, often the lack of positions in the unit manning document restricts deserving members from gaining the next rank. The yearly program gives them a chance to earn it.
On the announcement date, the wing commander and command chief visited the selectees to congratulate them.
The wing’s leadership played a small prank on Contreras, 919th Special Operations Maintenance Group, before springing the promotion on him.
While visiting Contreras’ unit, Bischoff said he had not received the information he needed from maintenance and he needed a point of contact that could get things going and make sure the information is reported. Contreras said she thought someone could be in trouble until she heard her name called with the new rank.
“After that, it was a bit of a blur,” said the new senior, who’d already put the results out of her mind and began thinking of next year’s package. “The way they came in really distracted me from even thinking they were there for anything to do with the STEP promotions.”
For Transfiguracion, 919th Special Operations Force Support Squadron, who was on assignment in Texas, she received many congratulatory calls from her commander and other squadron members.
At the September unit training assembly, her first sergeant coordinated a senior NCO induction during the squadron’s commander’s call. While reciting the creed, she became overwhelmed with emotion and just couldn’t hold back the tears.
“I just thought of my journey getting there, all the hard work and the people who mentored and believed in me,” she said. “I was overall excited, thankful, and nervous all at the same time.”
The command chief attributed the continued STEP success to three things: leadership, supervision and most of all, the Airmen themselves.
“We have amazing Airmen doing amazing things,” said Bischoff. “We have a unit like no other in the Reserve that is highly demanding, very diverse, and with multiple mission sets. We always perform above all expectations continuing the great legacy of the Citizen Air Commandos.”