Grissom rotates 'shirts' for fresh perspective

Published March 15, 2012
By Tech. Sgt. Mark R. W. Orders-Woempner
434th ARW Public Affairs

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Any fashionista can preach the value of switching up a wardrobe, but far more important than having a fresh new look, Grissom made some changes recently to provide fresh new perspectives.

The 434th Air Refueling Wing recently rotated positions in the first sergeant community here, affecting eight of the 11 first sergeant positions.

A U.S. Air Force first sergeant, often referred to as 'first shirt' or 'shirt,' works directly for a unit commander and serves as a critical link with a unit's enlisted members, ensuring they understand commander policies, goals and objectives as well being the commander's advisor on personnel programs, career progression, family needs, financial matters, education, recognition programs and any additional needs required by the commander.

Shortly after becoming the 434th ARW command chief last year, Chief Master Sgt. Karen Perkins said she saw that many of Grissom's first sergeants had been in the same positions for many years and wanted to move things around for the benefit of both the shirts and their units.

"This gives everyone a fresh perspective as we all can get used to doing things a certain way and get stale in our positions," she explained. "We looked at the needs of the first sergeants, the needs of the units, the needs of this wing and how those all fit with the needs of the Air Force as a whole."

The chief said the main goal of the move was to put the right first sergeant in the right unit where they were needed most.

"Every first sergeant has their unique strengths and experiences, and this helps move those strengths around to where they are needed," she added.

A former first sergeant herself, Chief Perkins is the functional manager for Grissom's shirts and said one of her biggest goals was to help the first sergeants reach their career goals.

"The whole goal was to set these folks up for their future," she said. "One of the things the command looks at is who has stepped outside their career field and tried to broaden their experiences."

To gain a better understanding of each shirt's career goals and to make the best decision for all involved, the command chief made sure the first sergeants had input in her decision and conferred with all the commanders affected for their input on the moves as well.

"I sat down with every first sergeant and asked them their goals and where they wanted to go," Perkins explained. "Well this person said they wanted to be a chief, and this person wanted to make senior (master sergeant) and be a superintendent, so I took that information and tried to help set them up to attain their career goals."

With the dust settled, the first sergeants are all in their new units. Below is a listing of the 11 first sergeant positions and the shirts that fill them after the move.

· 49th Aerial Port Flight - Master Sgt. Matthew Eastburn
· 434th Aerospace Medicine Squadron - Master Sgt. James Malloy
· 434th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron - Chief Master Sgt. Sandra Dye
· 434th Civil Engineer Squadron - Master Sgt. Dean Regazzi
· 434th Communications Squadron - Master Sgt. William Hurley
· 434th Logistics Readiness Squadron - Master Sgt. Brian Rude
· 434th Maintenance Operations Flight - Master Sgt. Geoffrey Spaulding
· 434th Maintenance Squadron - Senior Master Sgt. Matthew Zahradka
· 434th Mission Support Group 434th ARW wing staff - Master Sgt. Vincent Culbreath
· 434th Operations Support Squadron - Master Sgt. Leslie Nance
· 434th Security Forces Squadron - Master Sgt. Tonya Gonzales

The 434th ARW is the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. Grissom Airmen and aircraft routinely deploy around the world in support of the Air Force mission and U.S. strategic objectives.

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Grissom makes first sergeant changes

Grissom rotates 'shirts' for fresh perspective

Public Affairs Staff