13 selected for promotion to E-8 Published March 21, 2007 SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Thirteen Sheppard master sergeants were selected to pin on another stripe by a promotion board in February. The Sheppard senior NCOs were among 1,282 Air Force-wide selected for promotion to senior master sergeant. Those selected for promotion include: Master Sgt. Jody Bell, 365th Training Squadron; Master Sgt. James Conner Jr., 363rd TRS; Master Sgt. Michelle Gardner, 80th Flying Training Wing; Master Sgt. Paul Gilchrist, 373rd TRS; Master Sgt. Kevin Hayden, 882nd Training Group; Master Sgt. Bryan Hencke, 365th TRS; Master Sgt. Dennis Hill, 82nd Communication Squadron. Master Sgt. Johnny Jesse, 80th Operations Support Squadron; Master Sgt. Frank Peszynski, 382nd TRS; Master Sgt. James Pritchard, 366th TRS; Master Sgt. Bryan Raines, 383rd TRS; Master Sgt. Joyce Turner, 82nd Medical Operations Squadron; and Master Sgt. Jon Vela, 365th TRS. The board, which convened at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, Feb. 5 - 23, considered 14,626 master sergeants for an 8.77 percent selection rate. Last year's selection rate was 8.63 percent. The average score for those selected was 663.89 with an average time in grade and time in service of 4.50 and 20.53 years, respectively. The average score was based on the following point averages: -- 134.99 for enlisted performance reports; -- 32.88 for time in grade; -- 21.52 for time in service; -- 21.12 for decorations; -- 65.42 for Air Force supervisory examination; -- 387.97 for board score.