NCOA Commandant to become Command Chief

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Robert L. McIlrath
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs

SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Federal law states that only 1 percent of the Air Force’s enlisted force may hold the rank chief master sergeant, making it no easy task to reach the top tier of the enlisted structure. But an even slimmer number of chiefs get selected for a command chief position.

                                                                                       

Chief Master Sgt. Wendell J. Snider, former commandant of the NCO Academy at Sheppard AFB, has been selected to become the command chief at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, less than two years after promoting to chief.

 

Command chief master sergeants are senior advisors to top commanders and are responsible for all enlisted personnel in that unit. A command chief can be appointed to a Wing, Numbered Air Force or Major Command.

 

Unlike most chief master sergeants, Snider’s road to command chief selection didn’t start with attending Air Force basic military training.

 

First enlisting the Marine Corps in 1995, Snider was a motor transportation mechanic and served in the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, where he supported Operation Joint Endeavor and Operation Allied Force.

 

“The 26th MEU was the Marine on-call force that pretty much floats around in the Mediterranean Sea waiting for something to kick off,” Snider said. “We deployed a lot.”

 

After over four years of honorable service in the Marines, Snider decided to pursue a civilian career path.

 

“When I was working at Cummins Diesel engines after the Marine Corps, two older gentleman there kind of pulled me aside and told me I had too much potential and they thought I should go back into the military,” he said. “I heeded their advice and went to the Air Force recruiter since my wife was an Airman. I could never thank them enough for the advice they gave me.”

 

Since Snider had already completed boot camp for the Marine Corps at Parris Island, South Carolina, he wasn’t required to attend the Air Force’s basic military training, but it came at a slight cost.  

 

“I was a sergeant in the Marine Corps, so when I switched services, they took one pay grade and made me a senior airman,” he said. “I came in as a structural apprentice and they sent me to Gulfport, Mississippi.”

 

Over the next several years, multiple assignments and multiple deployments followed along with promotions.

 

Some of his deployments include Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan, Al Udeid AB, Qatar, and he spent more than 430 days in Afghanistan during two tours there.

 

The two old timers that recommended that Snider return to the military proved to be right. He made every rank on the first try except for chief master sergeant, which he got the second try.

“It’s a remarkable opportunity, I never even thought I would make chief,” Snider said. “I thought I’d be lucky to make master sergeant and it would be a win if I could serve well and make it to that.”

 

Some of Sniders achievements and awards include two Bronze Stars, Air Force Combat action Medal, masters and bachelors degree along with multiple associates degrees.

 

Snider said that being genuine and approachable are important qualities to him and they will remain in his character to help him be a good command chief.

 

Snider and his family plan to call the 366th Fighter Wing at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, home starting June 21, 2018.