Sheppard to honor chief master sergeant selects

  • Published
  • By John Ingle
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Sheppard Air Force Base will honor three senior master sergeants March 17 at 6 p.m. in the Sheppard Club during the Chief Recognition Ceremony.

Three senior master sergeants were selected for promotion to the highest enlisted grade of chief master sergeant. Less than 1 percent of the enlisted force achieves this rank, making the group an elite fraternity.

Senior Master Sgt. Cynthia Alexander, 97th Flying Training Squadron; Senior Master Sgt. James Pritchard, 364th Training Squadron; and Senior Master Sergeant Robert Smith, 82nd Training Wing Training Operations are the honored guests at the ceremony.

The three shared their thoughts on this special moment and how they achieved this goal.

Q: What was your initial reaction when you learned you were selected for promotion?
Sergeant Alexander: Thankful and excited.
Sergeant Pritchard: My initial reaction was shock. It was a surprise and I definitely could not have been happier.
Sergeant Smith: Starting at 7:50 that morning, I logged in to (Virtual Military Personnel Flight) and continued to hit refresh. I was so anxious to find out the results. At 7:59 a.m., the command chief and several other commanders and chiefs came into my office all at once to congratulate me. What a feeling ... to know that I had the support of all those senior leaders. What a shot of confidence that was! It was also humbling ... just a few short years ago I was the NCO who looked up to the chief for wisdom, guidance, advice ... now that's me.

Q: Were you thinking about making chief master sergeant early in your career?
Sergeant Alexander: Early on in my career I did not aspire to make chief. I did not aspire to get any of the grades I was promoted to. From the very beginning of my career, my aspiration and motivation for everything I did, whether in my job or in my personal life, was to do everything to the best of my ability and do it well so that my God could be pleased with me. As long as my God was pleased with me that was all that mattered.
Sergeant Pritchard: I was not really thinking about chief early in my career. I was just trying to get through my first enlistment.
Sergeant Smith: No. My goal was always master sergeant.

Q: When did it become a goal?
Sergeant Alexander: It became a goal when I believed I could become a chief and when others were telling me I should apply for a chief position.
Sergeant Pritchard: Making chief became a goal a short time after putting on master sergeant and being selected for a position on the U.S. Air Forces Europe Fuels Staff. I worked with an outstanding group of senior NCOs that really gave me the inspiration to be a chief.
Sergeant Smith: Only after I made senior master sergeant did I even begin to consider that I had the potential of becoming a chief master sergeant. What a crazy thought.

Q: When did you realize it was actually attainable?
Sergeant Alexander: When I got selected.
Sergeant Pritchard: After making senior master sergeant I realized that I had a good chance at making chief master sergeant.
Sergeant Smith: I've always thought it was attainable. We (people) put up our own barriers to goals. I think one trait of a leader is determination. Determined people find a way to navigate beyond those obstacles and reach their goals. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. The same is true with obtaining any goal (obtaining a degree, running in a marathon, progressing in the ranks) - one step at a time and through determination.

Q. What set you apart from your colleagues?
Sergeant Alexander: I was taught never to compare myself with others. I am to compare myself with myself. The best effort I put forth is good enough as long as I have put forth my best effort.
Sergeant Pritchard: I think what set me apart is my experience working at different levels and getting out of my primary Air Force Specialty Code and becoming an instructor and squadron superintendent.

Q: What will be your goal as you move forward with your new rank?
Sergeant Alexander: My goal will be as it has always been - do my best at every task I am given and do it to make a difference in the lives of those who come after me.
Sergeant Pritchard: My goal is to make a difference in the lives of the Airmen I come in contact with.
Sergeant Smith: To become a better 'servant-leader' for my commander and the people within my organization. Also set an even better example. In the words of Albert Schweitzer - 'Example is not the main thing in influencing others - it is the only thing.'

Q: What advice would you give young airmen today?
Sergeant Alexander: In this life, everything is governed by standards and laws that we must abide by or we pay the consequences for not abiding by them. Every day we are faced with making right or wrong choices. What choice will you make? My advice is to always find what is the right thing to do based on the laws and standards and do that no matter what the consequences. You can't go wrong making the right choice. If you don't take a stand for something, you'll fall for anything. When you've done all that you know is right, I'll say to you 'stand and remain standing on that which you know is right.' On a less serious note, laugh a lot and have a lot of fun. Life is short. Before you know it, you'll be taking your parent's place.
Sergeant Pritchard: Follow the rules. Also, if you want to make rank, give 100 percent to every task and study.
Sergeant Smith: Be determined - figure out a way around obstacles. It is 'service before self' not 'service instead of self.' Balance is the key. Don't let your career take priority over your family. Whatever 'it' is - be 'all in.' Don't half step anything - give it your all or step down. It's never too late to become what you might have been - choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.

Q: If you could change anything in your career, what would that be?
Sergeant Alexander: I wish I had cross trained into other career fields or volunteered for some special duty assignments. I regret I did not have a diverse career development as an enlisted member. When I realized how valuable these special duties were to making me a great senior NCO, I started pursuing other avenues to get that development and put myself out there amongst my enlisted Airmen whom I love so much. Iron sharpens iron. The Airmen sharpen us and make us great senior NCOs. We do not become chief on our own. By interacting with them and getting feedback from them stretches us and makes us reach within ourselves and pull out abilities we didn't know we had in us.
Sergeant Pritchard: I would have went overseas early in my career.
Sergeant Smith: Hmmm. I can't think of a single thing I'd change. I think someone's been watching out for me for a long time. Every experience I've had (good and bad) there has been value and I've learned from it.

Q: Where is your next assignment?
Sergeant Alexander: The Pentagon.
Sergeant Pritchard: Al Udeid air base, Qatar.
Sergeant Smith: No assignment yet.

Q: Is there anyone or a group of people who assisted you during your career to get you to this point? If so, who and how?
Sergeant Alexander: The first person who assisted me during my career to get to this point is Master Sgt. Pete Marcotte. He was the fire chief when I was stationed at Iraklion air station, Crete, Greece. He encouraged me and believed in me. He would put me in for Airman of the quarter, Airman of the year and even put me in to get promoted below the zone. Every supervisor I have had and I mean every one of them, has been instrumental in getting me to this point. Lt. Col. Scott Thomas at the 97th FTS here at Sheppard wrote me the most outstanding letter of recommendation that anyone could ask for and to him I want to say, "thank you". Col. Patricia Blassie, who was my supervisor when I worked at 22nd Air Force, is the one person I own my success to. She encouraged me to go to the senior NCO academy in-residence and told me to join the Top 3. She encouraged me to write a report and present it to the Top 3 when I came back from the SNCOA telling them what going to the SNCOA meant to me. She reviewed my script and I re-wrote it until it was good. She said that doing this will stretch me. I never forgot those words. I have stretched myself ever since. When I get to pin on chief, I will have the honor of having her pin it on me. There are some chiefs I own a thank you to for making a difference in my life: Chief Johanna Oren, Chief Dennis Maurer and last, but certainly not least, Chief Phillip Browning. I would not be getting this recognition if it had not been for a great chief, "Chief Phillip Browning." In the short time I have known him, he has made such a great impact on my life and leadership abilities that I am going to be forever indebted to him. Thanks Chief Browning.
Sergeant Pritchard: Chief Doug Campbell (retired) and Senior Master Sgt. Steve Richerson (retired) both had a huge impact on my career. From Chief Campbell, I learned vision and how to see a project through from start to finish. Sergeant Richerson has been a great friend and made me really believe I could make chief.
Sergeant Smith: Of course my wife and family. Without their support and understanding there is no telling where I'd be today. Every supervisor I've ever had played a role in where I am at today. More specifically, within the past few years every military training leader on base and every member of Training Operations has helped me to become successful. I have no grand allusions that I got here all by myself. I am surrounded by the highest caliber of professionals and they helped me become successful.