Felix, Ross selected for early promotion to E-4

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Frank Casciotta
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Two Vance Airmen will receive their promotion to senior airman early under the below-the-zone program.

Airman 1st Class Oscar Felix, a 71st Operations Support Squadron air traffic controller, and Airman 1st Class Kimberly Ross, a 71st Security Forces Squadron patrolman, were selected for early promotion.

The BTZ program is designed for airmen first class who distinguish themselves among their peers and are rewarded with an early promotion.

The BTZ board consisted of a master sergeant, a technical sergeant, a staff sergeant and a senior airman.

Both BTZ Airmen find their jobs motivating and both claim the most difficult part of being selected was preparation for the board.

"I studied for almost two months before I knew if I would be selected to meet the board," said Felix, a native of Riverside, Calif. "I was supposed to do practice boards for two weeks before I met the board, but before we could I had to go home on emergency leave."

When Felix returned to meet the board he had two days to prepare.

"I was pretty nervous meeting a board for the first time, but still confident just knowing what I had to do and what they wanted from me," said Felix.

As a radar approach control air traffic controller, Felix has the responsibility of keeping pilots separated from each other while they fly.

"I enjoy what I do here," said Felix. "Air traffic control is not one of the easiest jobs and can be stressful at times but it's rewarding. I get an adrenaline rush knowing that the lives of pilots are in my hands and making sure they are safe."

Since arriving at Vance more than a year ago, Felix has pushed himself to improve as an Airman.

"He got here with a motivated attitude and put his nose to the grindstone overcoming some struggles in training," said Staff Sgt. Christopher Hake, a 71st OSS air traffic control watch supervisor. "He's a great overall Airman -- he's top notch."

Ross was also pressed for study time when it came to meeting the board.

"I only had six days to prepare for the board and the email did not give me any idea of what I would need to study," said Ross. "It wasn't until the day before I met the board that I received an email telling me what I was expected to know."

Ross had been studying the wrong materials. Undeterred, she spent the next day studying the right material.

"I had confidence in myself because I know I'm a good Airman and a lot of work went into preparing my below-the-zone package," said Ross, a Lakewood, Wash., native. "I was confident I would be selected because I knew all the questions the members of the board asked me and I knew I had it."

"It wasn't hard to prepare Airman Ross for this board because she's at a higher level than her peers," said Staff Sgt. Joseph Curran, with the 71st SFS. "It's really easy to set up someone like Ross for success because she will always do what needs to be done. I wish I had 10 more like her."

The day after she met the board Ross was called into work on her day off so her squadron commander, the 71st Mission Support Group commander and the 71st Flying Training Wing commander could congratulate her.

"It was the best recall in my life," said Ross.

"Since Airman Ross arrived here she has performed at a higher level than most, singling herself out in a good way," said Curran. "She constantly performs well at her job, she's always volunteering and she's always doing everything she needs to do. Airman Ross is exactly what the Air Force is looking for in an Airman."