Team Sheppard recognizes new chiefs at ceremony

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jacob Corbin
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The Sheppard Chief's Group welcomed its three newest members Jan. 18 at the annual Chief's Recognition Ceremony at the Sheppard Club.

Senior Master Sgt. Michael Nowlin, 373rd Training Squadron; Senior Master Sgt. Jonathan Shane, 82nd Medical Support Squadron; and Senior Master Sgt. Benjamin Saunders, 372nd TRS, were among the more than 400 Air Force senior master sergeants to put on their final stripe. Only 1 percent of enlisted members, by law, can have the rank of chief master sergeant at a time.

"The recognition ceremony symbolizes a chief-selects introduction to not only the chiefs group, but the base as a whole," said Chief Master Sgt. Scott Cornell, 82nd Civil Engineer Squadron superintendent. "You only make chief once. It should be a very memorable night for the selectees."

Sheppard's three new chiefs said it was just that-memorable. They said the evening was great for them and their families, and were appreciative of the work that went into welcoming them.

"I've achieved one of the biggest goals I had when I came into the Air Force," said Sergeant Nowlin. "I've reached one point, but obviously there's more to go."

Air Education and Training Command Command Chief, Chief Master Sgt. Mark Luzader - the chief with the most time in grade currently serving in the Air Force - was the guest speaker at the event. Chief Luzader had words of welcome and advice for the new inductees.

"Welcome to the top 1 percent," he said. "Welcome to the top 1 percent in selflessness, humility and service to others. You're first a servant to others. Support, develop and grow those around you. That is what it means to be a chief."

Chief Luzader said while taking care of Airmen is one of their most important jobs a chief's primary duty is to make their commanders visions a reality.

"Serve the officers appointed over you and make the mission happen," he said. "It is the commander's song we should always sing."

Command Chief Master Sgt. Jeannie McLean, 82nd Training Wing command chief, also had some advice for the new chiefs.

"Allow yourselves more travel time, because now you know everything" she said. She added everyone will come seek for answers and they will be stopped regularly. "From the minute you got a line number, your life changed. Everyone sees you different now. You have earned the right to be called chief."

Chief McLean added while they may call themselves chief selects, the rest of Team Sheppard now sees them as chiefs. Attendees of the ceremony took those words to heart, by saying two words, "congratulations chief."

"That's when it kicks in," said Sergeant Shane about being called 'chief' and receiving his final stripe. "That's when you know you've arrived."

Brig. Gen. Richard Devereaux, 82nd TRW commander, said while this may be the final stripe of their career, it doesn't mean they're done.

"You have truly arrived," General Devereaux said. "In some ways this is just the beginning of the impact you can have on our Air Force. We are all proud to be associated with chiefs."

This year, the Air Force considered 2,476 senior master sergeants and selected 415 for a 16.80 percent select rate for promotion in 2008. Last year's selection rate was 16.85 percent.