Five stripes good, six stripes better

The Base Top III hosted the 2011 Senior NCO Induction Ceremony for 84 Master Sergeant Selects on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Aug. 26. Typically, 40 to 60 selectees are inducted each year into the Barksdale Senior NCO corps. A total of 123 Team Barksdale members were selected this year, with 39 of them supporting deployment taskings worldwide. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Micaiah Anthony)(RELEASED)

Five stripes good, six stripes better

Barksdale Airmen sing the Air Force Song during a Senior NCO Induction Ceremony on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Aug. 26. The Base Top III hosted the 2011 SNCO Induction Ceremony for 84 Master Sergeant Selects across Team Barksdale. Thirty-nine other selectees could not attend due to worldwide deployments. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Micaiah Anthony)(RELEASED)

Five stripes good, six stripes better

Published Sept. 1, 2011
By Airman 1st Class Micaiah Anthony
2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La., -- The base Top 3 hosted one of the largest Senior NCO Induction Ceremonies the base has ever seen Aug. 26.

Though a total of 123 Barksdale Airmen earned the rank of master sergeant, due to worldwide deployment only 84 were able to attend the ceremony, which recognized the accomplishments of those selected to serve as senior NCOs.

"The ceremony was a totally different experience," said Tech Sgt. Robert Connery, 2nd Maintenance Squadron. "I never had a chance to participate in an event like that."

Induction ceremonies have become a celebrated tradition throughout the Air Force. According to the Air Force Enlisted Heritage Research Institute, the exact start of induction ceremonies is unknown; however, enlisted induction ceremonies trace back to the army of Frederick the Great in the 17th century where NCOs celebrated earning their rite of passage. The "rite of passage" is still true today as being selected for master sergeant is challenging.

"We go through years of training, transitioning, deploying and shaping ourselves and our Airmen in multiple disciplines," said Senior Master Sgt. Robert Todd, 608th Air and Space Operations Center.

For many Airmen, earning the rank of master sergeant can be very daunting due to the high test scores needed to make it into the elite group; however the challenges of the promotion process are just the beginning.

"Being a senior NCO in today's Air Force is no easy task," said Todd. "Airmen at all levels in their career are expected to lead; however, it is never more prevalent and crucial to the development of our future enlisted leaders than when an Airman makes the transition to the senior NCO tier."

The responsibilities of a senior NCO are vast and setting the right example for Airmen is vital.

"Senior NCOs are expected to set and enforce the highest standards of personal integrity, loyalty, leadership, dedication and devotion to duty while upholding Air Force policies, traditions and standards," said Todd.

As each senior NCO was recognized, it was obvious by their demeanor that they plan to uphold those standards.