First Sergeants: Here to help with any problems, issues -- not just the bad stuff

  • Published
  • By Karen Abeyasekere
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Hearing the words, "You need to go see the first sergeant," can bring thoughts of fear and dread to many people. First sergeants, however, feel they get pretty bad press because, they say, they're available to help with many other things too.

"While we don't give the punishment, we are the face of it," said Master Sgt. Vinny Truncellito, 95th Reconnaissance Squadron first sergeant. "The commander has [their] 10 minutes with the Airman, then we help pick up the pieces afterwards. We work with Airmen to help them understand the punishment and help them recover from it. Any time someone has to go see the commander, they come by my office first.

"We want to change people's perception of us, and to let them know we can help them if they are dealing with other problems," he said. "If you have an issue, question, concern, problem or complaint, we are the right people to come to, to try and start sorting it out. We're not marriage or financial counselors, but we know exactly who to contact to get involved with those issues to get the necessary help. We're also available to help with emergency leave situations, housing or dorm issues, money, and assignment issues. Even in extreme circumstances, such as if your house gets flooded and you need money to get by - we can help with that."

Two of the main things people tend to associate with first sergeants are having stripes taken away, or being kicked out of the Air Force, according to the 95th RS first sergeant.

"We're on their side, to help them with any issue," Truncellito said. "Think about when your mom or dad made you eat your peas or go to bed early - they did it for your benefit," he said, to show a simple comparison of the role they play. "These are things that maybe didn't feel so great at the time, but they were always for your benefit, to make you a better person and make you stronger."

Master Sgt. Tom Wagner, 100th Communications Squadron first sergeant, said they're the Airmen's advocate.

"If you don't know who to talk to or where to find help, go talk to your shirt - he (or she) will either be the right person, or know the right person," Wagner said, explaining that as well as helping military members, they also help civilians, whether Ministry of Defence or Department of Defense.

Whoever your first sergeant is, they can be contacted 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week. During the work day, they can be contacted on their work phone number or e-mail, and through the command post after-hours.

Wagner said if necessary, they will even give someone a ride home after a night out, to ensure they get home safely.

"I'd rather pick one of my troops up from a bar at 4 a.m. than a police station at 6 a.m. or God forbid, the morgue," he said. "I'm going to find out about it anyway, so you might as well contact me first."

The first sergeants say it's better to get in touch with them when a problem or issue first occurs.

"If we're aware of what's going on at the start, we can help you; if we don't know until the end, then our hands are tied," Wagner said.

It takes a certain type of person to become a first sergeant, but those that take on the challenge always bond quickly with other first sergeants, according to Wagner, adding that it's tough, especially when you get to the point where you can't do anything more for someone.

"We understand what [fellow first sergeants] go through," he said. "The job is exceptionally demanding, as you can get calls at any time of the day or night. We usually get to work 7 a.m. and leave around 7 p.m., but we still get calls after that. I'll be heading out the door, and someone will say, 'Hey shirt - got a minute?'

"'Heck, yeah, I've got a minute - what do you need?' - I'd make anyone wait if it meant I could help one of my Airmen," said Wagner.

Though constantly busy, and while some of it is for not-so-good reasons, other things they take care of stick in their mind and mean a lot to them.

"I had an Airman whose dad had cancer," Wagner said. "We sent him home on emergency leave twice, but his dad wasn't getting better. The doctors then gave his dad a terminal diagnosis, saying he didn't have very long to live.

"I pushed to get him a humanitarian (assignment). Our commander, chief and I got it approved, and I spoke to the Airman recently, to find out how his dad was doing," said Wagner. "He now has a whole bunch of other things going on - his wife was in Japan when the tsunami and earthquakes happened, and he'd also been having trouble getting her visa sorted out."

Wagner said the Airman told him it meant a lot that he'd taken the time to contact him, and shared the news that his dad is now 100 percent cancer-free.

"That's why I do what I do," he said. "I'm sure his dad's recovery was definitely helped by the fact that his son was there and able to spend time at his bedside all day, instead of being on leave and having to rush back and forth."

Truncellito said amongst other things, he's helped Airmen with pay and promotion problems, and helped organize two humanitarian assignments.

"An Airman who was my very first 'customer' as a first shirt, had an unborn daughter who was having problems with her heart," said Truncellito. "His wife was in California and she couldn't travel because the baby was so ill. But I managed to get him there. The Airman [moved] to California, his daughter was born, and he sent me a photo of her, thanking me for getting him back there."

Four months later, his daughter passed away.

Truncellito said although the story didn't have a happy ending, the Airman was still very grateful that he was given the chance to have those four months with his baby daughter, and the first sergeant was glad he was able to be in the position to give him that help.

At the first sergeants council meetings, they get together to share and seek out information and ask questions, drawing on each others' experiences.

"It's like any other career field," said Wagner. "You need those experts, those guys who have been doing it forever, and who can mentor you."

One program close to the first sergeant's hearts is Operation Warmheart, which runs throughout the year.

"As first sergeants, we have a pot of money specifically for Operation Warmheart," Wagner said. "It's specifically for the Airmen, to help them if an emergency situation arises, such as if someone went on leave and came home to find the pipes had burst in their house, and everything is destroyed. We can take some of that money from that fund, and hand it to them."

Truncellito said a first sergeant will often show up to their council meeting and explain he has someone who is suffering in an emergency situation.

"We'll take a quick vote, and say, 'yep, give him money,'" he said. "Just like that - there's no bureaucracy, no loan, and no tax."

Operation Warmheart also provides Airmen food vouchers and presents for their kids at Christmas time. The first sergeants decide on whether to give money to Airmen on a case-by-case basis, but are always ready to help out immediately, whenever necessary.

"That's why we want our Airmen to come see us," Truncellito said, "So we know they're OK, or if they are having any problems. That's why we walk around all the time to see our Airmen, checking everything is OK with them, or if they need our help for anything."

The role of a first sergeant is considered a special duty, and anyone interested in applying for the position should first take a look at AFI 36-2113, to research the criteria and ensure they meet the requirements.

For more information, contact your squadron first sergeant.