Promoting Within: Deserving Airman Program gives Airmen a chance to lead

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Lou Burton
  • 482nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. -- --  Large corporations are fueled by the ideas and contributions of smart, intelligent people just entering into the work force. For these individuals, there is a constant and long term endeavor to earn the promotions that will eventually lead to management positions. For the U.S. Air Force Reserve, education and training can be key factors for helping "employees" enter the managerial path. 

The Deserving Airman Program gives Airmen a chance to enter into an officer position based on several key factors such as their personal commitment and success in education, training and physical fitness, said Tech. Sgt Jessica Garner, chief of career enhancement. 

The two officer positions up for grabs are in the Aerial Port and Mission Support squadrons. Interestingly, the commanders of both those sections were also promoted to their positions by way of the Deserving Airman Program, she said. 

The program closed its deadline for two officer positions during the August Unit Training Assembly and will be reviewing the 11 submitted packages before going to a board in September to be reviewed for recommendations. After that, the recommended packages are sent to the wing commander, who in turn makes the final selections, said Senior Master Sgt. Wanda Symons, chief of military personnel programs. 

The deserving Airman program is a special program that is only enacted when positions become available by the unit commanders, Garner said. 

"I have been here since September of 2007 and this is the first time in several years since the program has been given positions for promotion, said Garner. 

So how does this program affect the Air Force Reserve? 

The Deserving Airman Program gives enlisted members the opportunity to earn a commission while boosting morale by allowing them to use their strengths and abilities to lead, Garner said.