386 AEW Top III recognize new master sergeant selects

Published May 29, 2017
By By Tech. Sgt. Jonathan Hehnly
386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA – The 386th Air Expeditionary Wing held a master sergeant release party to announce and celebrate its five technical sergeants who were selected for promotion, May 24, 2017.

The 386th AEW Top III organization hosted the celebration to recognize the master sergeant selects for reaching the senior non-commissioned officer level.

“Achieving the rank of SNCO is an honor and a significant achievement that is no small feat,” stated Master Sgt. Kristal Coleman, the 386th AEW Top III president. “This should be recognized regardless of if the member is at home station or in a deployed environment.”

The Air Force enlisted force structure is comprised of three distinct and separate tiers, each correlating to increased levels of education, training, experience and responsibility. The three tiers are the junior enlisted Airman, the non-commissioned officer and the senior non-commissioned officer.

Air Force NCOs and Senior NCOs are promoted based on the Weighted Airman Promotion System. Airmen with the proper time in service, time in grade, skill level and commander’s recommendation compete for promotion based on their WAPS points within their career field or Air Force Specialty Code. The WAPS promotion points are derived from a system which gives points for the promotion fitness examination, specialty knowledge test, medals and awards and performance evaluations.

Each year only a limited number of technical sergeants make the cut for promotion to the senior non-commissioned officer tier. This year the Air Force selected 5,166 for promotion to master sergeant of the 20,169 technical sergeants eligible.

The overall selection rate was 25.61 percent with the selectees’ average time in service being 14.36 years.

“Being a SNCO means you are headed into Chapter 5 of the Enlisted Force Structure which is crucial to ensuring the development of the future of the force,” said Coleman. “You are in short training your replacements and that isn't something that should be taken lightly. In addition, you are being entrusted with the greatest asset of the Air Force... people! You are also now taking your leaderships vision and making it your own to effectively accomplish the mission. Airmen truly look at you for wisdom and guidance and mentorship...and you have a responsibility to measure up!”

The promotion to master sergeant brings with it the transition from being a technical expert and first line supervisor to a leader of operational competence skilled at merging subordinates’ talents, skills and resources with other teams’ functions to most effectively accomplish the mission, according to Chapter 5 of the Air Force Enlisted Force Structure. This rank carries significantly increased responsibilities and requires a broad technical and managerial perspective.

“I’m honored to have been chosen to rise to the next tier in my career,” said Tech. Sgt. Peter H. Demkow, Jr., one of the master sergeant selectees, and the 386th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, Intransit Munitions Facility NCOIC. “The mentorship, motivation and support of my wife, supervisors and colleagues both past and present helped get me to this point. I’ve been lucky to have had these influences in my life pushing me to challenge myself. The SNCO tier is a whole new ball game that comes with great responsibility. I’m prepared for this challenge and to continue mentoring our Airmen into tomorrow's leaders.”

The other 386th Air Expeditionary Wing members who were selected for promotion to master sergeant were Tech. Sgts. James Ayers, Steven Brooks, Jonathan Laureano and Kyle Roen.