332nd EFSS acting first sergeant: Not assigned, but requested

Published March 27, 2012
By Senior Airman Melanie Holochwost
332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- If one person at the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing is continuing the Tuskegee Airmen legacy, it's the 332nd Expeditionary Force Support Squadron acting first sergeant -- Master Sgt. Judith Fields.

Fields, who is deployed from Misawa Air Base, Japan, has been an acting first sergeant here since November 2011. And, just like the original Tuskegee Airmen, she wasn't assigned. Lt. Col. Sara Custer, 332nd EFSS commander, requested her for the position.

"I chose her because of her demeanor," said Custer, who is deployed from the Pentagon. "She listens more than she talks, and when she does talk, her comments are well thought out."

Custer said she thought Fields would be a great first sergeant because the senior NCO is always calm under pressure.

"Back at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, Fields was my rock as the dining facility manager," she said "I wasn't sure if we could pull off a last-minute change to feed the base without our 800-plus contractors. She assured me we could -- and we did, with less than 200 Army and Air Force members."

When the wing moved here, at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Custer said she was given the option to have a diamond-wearing first sergeant. But, she politely declined. She knew who she wanted.

"When Col. Custer asked me to be her first sergeant, I was surprised and immediately accepted," Fields said. "I was shocked and honored that she thought of me to fill this position."

Fields said this opportunity has allowed her to grow.

"Before this deployment, I was pretty shy," she said. "This opportunity forced me to step way outside my box and interact with a lot more people than I normally would, and I've loved every minute of it."

Fields said she enjoys her current position so much that she's applying to be a diamond-wearer.

"I've been in the military for 19 years and I've never thought about being a first sergeant until now," she said. "Now, my plans have completely changed. Instead of retiring at 20 years, if my first sergeant package gets accepted, I'll reenlist and serve at least 24 years."

Custer said she is very glad Fields accepted her offer.

"I wouldn't trade her for anything," she said. "My squadron loves her and the other first sergeants respect her. Her advice to me has been spot on every time. I truly believe the Air Force would benefit greatly if Master Sgt. Fields became a full-time, diamond-wearing first sergeant."