Written on February 15, 2012 at 6:02 pm by

First sergeants are priceless assets to their units

Filed under Air Force, On the Job {11 comments}

By Master Sgt. Brian McFarland
92nd Medical Group

In the first few years of my Air Force career and more recently over my four-month tenure as an interim first sergeant, I’ve become increasingly familiar with a negative connotation associated with the position of the first sergeant.

More often than not, when I ask the question: “What’s the first thing you think of when you think of a first sergeant?” The responses I’ve received include, “trouble, discipline, problems, standards, and Article 15s.” The majority of these responses come from, but are not limited to first term Airman with less than one year on station.

If you were to reference AFI 36-2113, The First Sergeant, it’s there in black and white ink. Words like “disciplinary actions, standards and authority.” While all of these attributes are vital to the force and serve a very necessary purpose in each and every unit, squadron and group across the Air Force, that’s not all a first sergeant is about. A first sergeant is a priceless asset to the men and women in the unit he/she is assigned to.

First Sergeant

According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, “asset” is defined as “a useful or valuable quality, person, or thing; an advantage or resource.” Every piece of Merriam-Webster’s definition of an asset correlates to an Air Force first sergeant and what they are to the Airmen, NCOs, senior NCOs and officers assigned to their respective unit. The unfortunate truth about the successes had by first sergeants is that nine out of 10 times, they occur behind closed doors and stay between the member requiring some level of assistance, their immediate supervisor and the “shirt.”

You may hear about the trouble going on in the squadron and the discipline as a result of it, or you may see the “shirt” correcting a dress and appearance issue on the spot, and you might know that if an active duty member goes to jail, it’s the first sergeant that gets the call and facilitates the member’s release. At first glance, the aforementioned examples seem to have negative connotations behind them. If you were to look a little deeper and “peel back the onion” on these situations, the positive effect of the first sergeant’s actions will be staring you square in the face.

So, when the first sergeant discussion takes place with a first term Airman, whom for the most part, has a blank active duty canvas eagerly waiting to be painted with positive Air Force images and memories, my challenge to you all is to mention the good in the same breath you mention the bad.

First sergeants work 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week for the members of their respective unit and should the phone ring at three in the morning on a Saturday, your “shirt” will answer, wipe the sleep out of his/her eyes, and provide you with whatever level of assistance you need to facilitate a positive outcome.

Take care of the mission first, take care of each other to build trust and an unbeatable team and take care of yourself with a personal commitment to be the best.

  • paul

    GOOD POSITION DEPENDING ON THE ONE HOLDING THE POSITION..RETIRED USAD 1STSGT…PC

  • Miguel Morris, AF Retired.

    As a former commander, I was blessed to have the best First Sergeants that a Commander could have.  In my case they were E-9s.  What was missing in the article was the fact that First Sergeants were the Friends to all enlisted personnel and thereby the primary motivating person in the Squadron. I thank all my assistants in the two flightline maintenance units , I was honored to Command, especially the crew chiefs. May God bless all the military personnel who serve, have served, or will serve.  Lt.Col Morris, retired.     

  • First Sgt Hopeful

    I want to be a First Sergeant more than anything else.  I have been told I won’t make rank if I become a Shirt but at the end of the day when it’s all said and done.  I would be able to say I made a difference.  I pinned on Master Sgt at my 12 year mark and I applied to be a shirt.  My package was disapproved by my Career Field Manager.  My heart was broken.  However, my spirit wasn’t and I am trying again.  I hope to join the men and women whose sole responsibility it taking care of people.  I know that is what I am meant to do.  

  • Pamela Browning

    Great article MSgt McFarland, this is one I will share.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Nikki-Ferrara/1412850033 Nikki Ferrara

    As a newly commissioned public affairs officer, I recently sat down with two senior non-commissioned officers, both of whom have served as sergeants, to take advantage their the decades of experience. I could not be more appreciative of the information and guidance they shared with me. I am convinced that any service member who has had the privilege of working with these individuals must have become better for it. Their commitment to the personal and professional success of their airmen was incredibly apparent. I especially liked the Senior Master Sergeant’s policy of “fairness, firmness and flexibility.” I hope that officers and young airmen alike understand the valuable resource that a first sergeant can be.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Nikki-Ferrara/1412850033 Nikki Ferrara

    As a newly commissioned public affairsofficer, I recently sat down with two senior non-comissioned officers, both of whom have served as first sergeants, to take advantage of their decades of experience. I could not be more appreciative of the information and guidance they shared with me. Their commitment to the personal and professional success of their airmen was incredibly apparent. I am convinced that any service member who has had the privilege to work with these two individuals must be better for it. I hope that young officers and airmen alike understand the valuable resource that a first sergeant can be. Great article.

  • MSgt M.

    First I wanted to let you know that I have worked with Shirt’s of all SNCO ranks to include Chiefs, so I’m not sure why you have been told you won’t make rank. Second, I have also been disapproved by my career field manager. But at my last assignment I was given a chance to be an additional duty Shirt for almost a year. Maybe you can look into shadowing your Shirt and being their additional duty as a way to get experience in the job until your package gets approved.

    I understand your heart being broken because that is what you are meant to do as my passion is taking care of Airmen and people in general. I loved filling the seat and had such great leadership and support from all my Shirts in my committee.

    Even though I didn’t have the physical diamond on my sleeve, my entire unit saw it there and respected me as the Shirt from the second I walked in my office.

    I’m glad to hear your spirit wasn’t broken and I know you will join them one day. I hope you are able to take advantage of the additional duty role as I did and I wish you success. Thank you for your service and the desire to take care of our Airmen, their families and others.

  • Tomas

    how much money does receive a sergeant of the usaf as payment for each month or year of service in the military?

  • Anonymous

    how mouch money does receive as concept for salary per each moth of duty  a seargeant of the USAF?

  • Ruben Vera

    I am currently in a small unit, that because it size it won’t justified a first shirt. I believe it make a difference not having that experience realy hurts the moral of the unit.

  • Anonymous

    I believe that first Sergeants are not recognized enough for their role in the Air Force.  They are the glue that holds the Air Force together, the commanders job is alot easier with them at work to resolve problems that are encountered every day.  Most never see the assistance given by these professionals.  They work without merit most of the time, and deal with the issues that alot of supervisors just soon forget or not deal with.  I had one of the best, when in service, he was a vietnam veteran.  He helped when I was miles from home.  His door was always open, and he always seemed to care about what was on my mind during a difficult time in my career.  I hope they still make them this way, for the airman who may need some good advice during his career.  Keep up the good work Sergeants, and may God bless them for all they do to help the ones in need.