BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Editor’s Note: This article is the seventh and final article in a series highlighting the Air Force Global Strike Command Outstanding Airmen of the Year.
Air Force Global Strike Command recently named its Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2019, recognizing the top enlisted members across the command.
The Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, First Sergeants Council was named the First Sergeant Council of the Year. The council is comprised of 31 members, which includes the 91st Missile Wing, 5th Bomb Wing and tenant units.
“We are truly humbled,” Senior Master Sgt. Chrishana Dameron, council vice president, said. “It is recognition of a hungry team of professionals, dedicated leaders and followers, who came together as a family with a common goal - to make Team Minot, the community, and the command better for Airmen and families. A reminder that ‘Only the Best Come North,’ and we are here to serve!”
The vision of the Minot First Sergeants Council is “to care for, mentor and develop Team Minot to 100 percent mission readiness…today, tomorrow, forever,” said Senior Master Sgt. Yucari Brown, council president.
“Our team is composed of individuals that are truly dynamic. They are always putting their Airmen first and creating innovative ideas and ways to motivate, encourage, mentor and develop not only their Airmen but the whole council,” Brown said. “Just like most councils, we utilize our time together to learn from each other, support each other and ensure the council is working towards our objectives and focus.”
Over the past year, the council’s focus has been on improving the quality of life and warfighter readiness of the Airmen on the base, as well as their families.
The council identified a medical care void, and worked to synchronize needs with the community. They created the first-ever spouse resiliency curriculum, planned professional development courses and consulted with eight support agencies. Both the 91 MW and 5 BW adopted the initiative.
The council also steered a new club program, which drove connections between 430 members and spurred 28 new clubs for various interests around the base.
“I’d say the thing I am most proud of is our ability to bring together the base as a whole via the clubs initiative with such a small and young team of First Sergeants,” said Senior Master Sgt. Jamie Britt, previous council president who is now stationed at Los Angeles Air Station, California.
In the office of the 5th Force Support Squadron First Sergeant, Master Sgt. Lakisha Brown, hangs a scrabble anagram based off the word “1Sgt.” It contains the words counselor, team, leader, enforcer, mentor and advocate.
“This exemplifies what we do to partner along with Air Force Global Strike Command and support the two legs of the nuclear triad,” Brown said. “People First!”