First sergeants serve important role

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. James M. Hodgman
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  For first sergeants, every day is different. One day they may help an Airman fly home on emergency leave, another they may run around base attending meetings and may be woken up at 2 a.m. another day to handle some emergency situation.

This is the reality for anyone who volunteers to serve as a first sergeant.

Throughout the 55th Wing, the largest in Air Combat Command, there are nearly 40 first sergeants serving more than 5,000 Airmen at bases from Offutt to Kadena Air Base, Japan.

Nineteen of the wing's first sergeants serve here and Chief Master Sgt. James M. MaGill, the first sergeant for the 97th Intelligence Squadron, is one of them.

Chief MaGill has served the Air Force for nearly 30 years, 13 of them as a first sergeant. He said he wanted to be a first sergeant ever since Operation Desert Storm.

"While deployed for eight months my unit first sergeant watched over my family," Chief MaGill said. "I was able to see what a first sergeant really does; take care of people."

As a first sergeant Chief MaGill is responsible for advising his commander on a wide range of issues including the health and morale of the enlisted force, counseling Airmen, mentoring non-commissioned officers and he constantly works with on and off-base agencies to ensure his Airmen receive the best support possible.

"Helping my Airmen succeed is my greatest reward," the chief said, "helping people, that's why I'm a first sergeant."

Another first sergeant here shares Chief MaGill's joy for helping Airmen.

Master Sgt. Justin King, 55th Wing first sergeant, was introduced to the first sergeant position while going through deployment training at Fort Lewis, Wash.

During training, Sergeant King's commander told him he would be "the" first sergeant. He reluctantly took the job, but soon thereafter, took a liking to the position.

The master sergeant recalls helping an airman arrange emergency leave so she could be by her grandmother's side for her last days. The airman was told she couldn't take leave and had to report to Iraq. However, Sergeant King conducted some research and found that, since the airman's grandmother took care of her for seven years, emergency leave was authorized.

Later that night, the airman was on a plane and her grandmother passed the following evening.

"Helping Airmen (is) really rewarding," Sergeant King said, and that experience motivated him to apply for first sergeant duty.

Prior to becoming a first sergeant in December 2009, Sergeant King spent 14 years in the security forces career field. He deployed numerous times and jumped out of airplanes with the Army.

But, the master sergeant said no job compares with being a first sergeant.

"Being a first sergeant (is) the best job in the Air Force," Sergeant King said.

But how could a job that requires so much attention, so many late night phone calls and to sometimes be the one who delivers heartbreaking news be the best job in the Air Force?

For Sergeants MaGill and King, being there for their Airmen makes everything worthwhile.

Recently, Chief MaGill helped a frustrated NCO apply for retraining. According to the chief, the NCO was upset because he never got word on the status of his retraining application. The chief made a phone call and 15 minutes later the NCO's retraining was approved.

Moments like that are what make being a first sergeant so special Chief MaGill said, and Sergeant King agrees.

"The single greatest thing about being a first sergeant would be; my job is Airmen and my business is people," Sergeant King said. When an airman comes back and thanks me for caring and helping him or her (that's a great feeling.)"

Anyone interested in applying for first sergeant duty must be a master sergeant or master sergeant select, have completed course 14, and have a Community College of the Air Force degree.

Sergeant King said that every NCO interested in being a first sergeant should shadow a first sergeant at their base. Doing so, he said, will give them an opportunity to see what's expected of them as a first sergeant for their units.

Chief MaGill also encourages married Airmen to have their spouses talk with the spouses of first sergeants to get their perspective.

"I could not have been a first sergeant so long, or have been so successful if it weren't for my wife and friend Tammy," the chief said.

For more information on first sergeant duty, contact your first sergeant. To apply, applicants must schedule a meeting with the 55th Wing command chief, who will determine an applicant's eligibility.  (Editor's Note: This is the last story in a three-part series on special duty assignments.)