10 technical sergeants to cross into senior NCO ranks at induction ceremony; accept responsibility, first top stripe

  • Published
  • By Capt. Geoff Buteau
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  The Patriot Senior Enlisted Association Top 3 is scheduled to hold their annual senior NCO inductions July 30 at the Minuteman Club for technical sergeants notified of their promotion to master sergeant in the past year. 

"It's a big deal because it's an opportunity to have the entire base populous, including the loved ones of the [master sergeants] select, to recognize them becoming a member of the 'Top 3,' the first sign of hitting the highest three ranks in the enlisted corps," said Master Sgt. Donald Gonsalves, Airman and Family Readiness coordinator and the president of the Patriot Senior Enlisted Association Top 3. 

The senior NCO induction ceremony is the culmination of a three-day class the promoting technical sergeants will participate in, called the Senior NCO Professional Enhancement Course, also operated by the Patriot Senior Enlisted Association Top 3. 

"There's no other professional military education right [after promoting to master sergeant], so we want to give them some of the quick tools," said Sergeant Gonsalves, who attended a similar enhancement course in 2005. 

Invited to the enhancement course were 13 master sergeants select from across New England: The 313th Recruiting Squadron, 319th Recruiting Squadron, 66th Medical Operations Squadron, 66th Medical Support Squadron, 2nd Weather Squadron Detachment 2, 66th Force Support Squadron, 66th Security Forces Squadron, The Air Force Band of Liberty, Air Force Element Naval War College, Electronic Systems Center headquarters, and the 850th Electronic Systems Wing. While 13 were selected for promotion, three have permanently changed station leaving 10 to attend the event at Hanscom. 

Sergeant Gonsalves said the change from technical sergeant to master sergeant is so significant that the induction ceremony includes a symbolic bridge, crossing them into the ranks of other senior NCOs. "They cross that bridge and take those steps to becoming that first-level manager," he said. For these master sergeants select, their career has focused on mastering their specific skill set. Now, instead of specific day-to-day interactions with customers, they will manage Air Force personnel and financial assets. 

Changes to these soon-to-be master sergeants aren't only stepping into a new term of address, but an expanded set of responsibilities, a role as a leader with more Airmen looking up to them as senior NCOs, and expectations of excellence, since to get to this point the inductees had to study hard, be an expert at their career, and be involved in military and civilian communities, Sergeant Gonsalves said. 

To go along with expanded responsibilities and to show how significant the jump from E-6 to E-7 is, there are even some positions and specialized programs in the Air Force that are only available to "E-7 and above." Unit voting assistance officer and the responsibility of disposing of illegal paraphernalia found on bases are among those positions. 

"In some ways it's an incredible feeling when you [become a master sergeant]," said Sergeant Gonsalves. "You don't really know how to approach it or describe it, but once you hit that level it's pretty cool."