Commentary: So you want to be a first sergeant

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Kevin Hawks
  • 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  In 1988 I was experiencing a problem that was seriously affecting my ability to do my job as a nuclear cruise missile technician - a job I'm sure you will agree requires total concentration.

One day, my first sergeant was visiting my shop and stopped to talk to me. I didn't know he even knew I existed, so I was a little surprised when he said "Kevin, what's bothering you?"

I unloaded the personal problem I thought I could deal with on him, and he said, "Let me see what I can do." He immediately picked up the phone and made a call starting out the conversation with, "This is the first sergeant of Airman Hawks..."

I don't remember everything he said, but I do remember that his one phone call solved my issue, and I was able to be effective in my job again. That was the moment I made the decision to become a first sergeant when I had the opportunity.

Fifteen years later, I realized that dream and had the honor of sewing a diamond on my chevrons. For the past six-and-a-half years, I've had the pleasure of fulfilling my destiny and serving the men and women of the US Air Force.

Airmen are our most important resource and helping them is an extremely rewarding experience. There are several ways being a first sergeant benefits the Air Force. First and foremost, the service we provide our Airmen helps to ensure the mission is completed in the most effective and efficient manner possible. Second, it provides senior NCOs incredible insight into the spectrum of specialties, making them more well-rounded and knowledgeable leaders. Finally, first sergeants have a unique opportunity to mentor and develop junior officers into the senior leaders of tomorrow.

With all those benefits, why wouldn't anyone want the opportunity to have a broad and lasting effect on the people and mission of the Air Force?

A few months ago, I received a call from one of my Airmen who was deployed to Iraq. He was very concerned because his wife, who is Romanian, was extremely upset because her mother was suffering a terminal illness and she couldn't afford tickets to see her.

Knowing this was keeping him from focusing on the mission, and faced with a lack of agreement between the American Red Cross and Romanian Red Crescent, I contacted the appropriate agencies and people to get authorization for emergency leave and secured a flight for her and her children.

Additionally, because the flight left early, before shuttle bus service, I drove them to Heathrow airport in London. Within hours, I received an e-mail from the husband expressing his gratitude, relief and ability to refocus on the mission.

Within a few weeks, the mother succumbed to her illness and the down-range first sergeant arranged for the Airman's release and transportation to Romania to join his family for the funeral. That's just one example of the incredible impact a first sergeant has on not just an Airman, but his family.

A few hours of work can pay lasting dividends through the dedication and commitment gained from an Airman who benefitted from a first sergeant's efforts - and a heartfelt 'thank you' from an Airman is priceless.

Stepping out of your career field and into first sergeant duty also broadens your perspective on what others do for the Air Force Mission. My first eight years were in maintenance inside a weapons storage area, passing through the hard-nose men and women of the Security Police/Security Forces.

At that time in my career, I found them to be more of a hassle and inconvenience rather than a force enhancer. However, my two years as a Security Forces Squadron first sergeant completely changed my opinion of this thankless career field.

Standing in as a gate guard for a 12-hour shift gave me a new appreciation of the awesome responsibility these young men and women face day in and day out. Unlike the crew chief who sees his airplane leave the ground, the cop never sees the terrorist he prevented from entering the installation through his vigilance.

I've experienced that same appreciation in all the units I've served as a first sergeant. This career broadening makes anyone who wears the diamond a much more complete senior NCO and total Airman. While serving his Airmen is a first sergeant's primary focus, the impact he has on his the officer corps can have a lasting impact on the Air Force.

In my time as a first sergeant, I have worked for nine commanders. I can only hope my advice and counsel on matters regarding the enlisted corps has had a positive and lasting impact on their leadership and impression of the enlisted force for years to come.
Every chief of staff was once a squadron commander, and I'm sure his first sergeant during that period had an impact on his approach to leading the enlisted corps. Not that all our commanders will become the Air Force Chief of Staff, but they will more than likely become group and wing commanders where they will have a direct impact on thousands of Airmen at any given time.

Being a first sergeant has been the most rewarding, though sometimes incredibly challenging, job I've ever had in my career. Many people shun the duty due to the late-night phone calls and sometimes difficult aspects of the jobs.

The old adage "you spend 90 percentage of your time with 5 percent of the people" is not necessarily true. The job is what you make it.

I can't lie and say there aren't days I wonder why I do it, but they are few and far between the days I go home filled with the satisfaction that I positively impacted an Airman's life and career.