Page 6 - Desert Lightning News, Nellis-Creech AFB Edition, February 5, 2021

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Flying first sergeant maintains qualifications

by Natalie Stanley For Brittany, being a new first sergeant during CO-
Creech AFB, Nev. VID-19 has come with unique hurdles, including attending
the first and only completely virtual first sergeant school.
Master Sgt. Brittany, 91st Attack Squadron first ser- However, with the support of the squadron leadership
geant, is unique. and the use of technology, she has been able to support
She is one of the first enlisted aviators who have taken her people through a challenging year.
the step outside her career field to become a first sergeant, “I never imagined a few years ago that I would be a
while still maintaining her flight hours and required first sergeant, let alone get my diamond virtually, but I
qualifications. am thankful for the fantastic technology that has allowed
“I have a passion for helping people,” said Brittany. “I me to connect and stay connected in this unprecedented
wanted an opportunity to build them up and that is what year,” she said.
drew me to this opportunity.” Brittany will serve as a first sergeant for the next three
It was announced in 2020 that career enlisted aviators years and will maintain her basic qualification, making
may now perform duties outside of their flying squadron the transition back into her career field much easier.
in a first sergeant role and still be eligible to maintain “One of the reasons I wanted to do this was to bring the
their flight hours and other training required as a flyer. flying perspective to this position, to be able to say ‘hey I’ve
“One of the biggest fears hindering Airmen from seek- been there and I’m continuing to be there’ to have empathy
ing special duties was that if they were gone too long they Air Force photograph for their situation as a fellow flyer and so far I have been
would lose valuable qualifications,” said Chief Master Sgt. Master Sgt. Brittany, 91st Attack Squadron first sergeant, able to do that and look forward to the future,” she said.
Travon W. Dennis, Headquarters Air Force Reserve Com- stands in front of MQ-9 Reaper, Jan. 22, at Creech Air Force Since the conversation in January 2020 until present
mand, command first sergeant. “That shouldn’t be the case Base, Nev. Brittany is one of the first enlisted aviators who date there have been 12 flyers who have taken the step out
in any AFSC, we’re giving those folks an opportunity to have taken the step outside her career field to become a of their career fields, while keeping their qualifications
temporarily leave the career field to gain experience and first sergeant, while still maintaining her flight hours and during their time away.
knowledge.” required qualifications. “This is a return on investment for the Air Force,”
Like many enlisted aviators, Brittany said that while said Dennis. “We’re giving those folks an opportunity to
she had been interested in becoming a first sergeant, she career field when you’re non-qualified is so difficult,” temporarily leave the career field to gain experience and
didn’t want to leave the flying community and go non- said Brittany. knowledge.”
current on her qualifications. However, seeing the updated policy, she immediately Editor’s note: Last names have been removed from pub-
“I feel like not many enlisted aviators want to leave spoke with her leadership, who were able to make her lication in this story in accordance with 432nd Wing/432nd
the flying world, because trying to break back into the retraining happen, even in the midst of a pandemic. Air Expeditionary Wing policy.

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