E-7s inducted into senior NCO tier

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Amanda Mills
  • Public Affairs
Vance Air Force Base, Okla. --  A three-day senior NCO enhancement seminar culminated in an induction ceremony Oct. 21 for 11 Team Vance members.
The two master sergeants and nine technical sergeants learned about senior NCO expectations and responsibilities, ethics and core values before being officially inducted into the senior NCO tiers.
The inductees are: Master Sgts. Mary Cole, 71st Mission Support Squadron, and Bobby Wilkerson, 71st Logistics Readiness Squadron, and Tech. Sgts. Robert English, 71st Flying Training Wing, Rebecca Gallagher, 71st Operations Support Squadron, Karen Horvath, 71st Medical Operations Squadron, David Jones, 71st OSS, James Moore, 71st Medical Support Squadron, Russell Morrow, 71st MSS, Vincente Price, 71st MSS, Steven Reddecliff, 71st Mission Support Group, and Jeffrey Simon, 71st Communications Squadron. Tech. Sgt. inductees Theresa Nunez, 32nd Flying Training Squadron, and Gary Rann, 71st OSS, were unable to attend the ceremony.
The seminar prepares NCOs for their senior roles in the military. Although a lot of information was reinforcement, Sergeant Cole said she still benefited from the course.
"It was a great refresher course, but it also helped me generate new ideas," she said. "I think this information should be included in the NCO seminar as well. My thanks also go to Vance, because this is the only base I know that offers the NCO and senior NCO enhancement seminars."
"It's really an awesome transition, going from junior to senior NCO," said Master Sgt. Vivian Bolden, 25th Flying Training Squadron and ceremony committee member. "Airmen have gained so much knowledge by then, they don't realize just how much they know until it's reintroduced."
The senior NCO induction ceremony formally recognized the technical sergeants and promoted them to their next rank after they completed the seminar.
"The ceremony went well and was very well put together," Sergeant Moore said. "The committee did well in planning what they could for this event which recognized our new leadership roles. My family was also present and was pleased."
Sergeant Bolden thanked those involved with the ceremony for its success.
"Thanks to other committee members Master Sgts. Gregory Hall, Brad Tucker, Mary McClelland, David Poppinga and Dennis Smith for helping the ceremony run smoothly," she said. "Thanks also to the vocalist, emcees, chaplain, saber team, honor guard, audio visual and the Top 3."