Chief Recognition Ceremony

The chief master sergeant recognition ceremony is one of the oldest military traditions. In the late 1950s, the Air Force introduced a new super enlisted grade to replace its warrant officers. This top enlisted grade came to be called, “chief master sergeant.” The word “chief” means, “one who is highest in rank or authority.” The word “master” means, “a teacher or mentor.” The word “sergeant” refers to, “any of the noncommissioned officer ranks appointed to a rank conferring leadership.” The Air Force only promotes 1 percent of its enlisted force to the rank of chief master sergeant. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Alexandre Montes/Released)

Chief Recognition Ceremony

The 39th Air Base Wing Commander Col. Eric Beene presents the chief master sergeant medallion to Senior Master Sgt. Brett Rodgers, the 39th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordinance Disposal Flight chief alongside Chief Master Sgt. David Lawrence, the commandant of the Kisling Noncommissioned Officer Academy and Chief Master Sgt. Marcus Snoddy, the 39th ABW command chief, before a chief master sergeant recognition ceremony Jan. 28, at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Alexandre Montes/Released)

Chief Recognition Ceremony

The 39th Air Base Wing Commander Col. Eric Beene presents the chief master sergeant medallion to Senior Master Sgt. Teresa Clapper, the 39th Force Support Squadron Manpower and Organization Section chief alongside Chief Master Sgt. David Lawrence, the commandant of the Kisling Noncommissioned Officer Academy and Chief Master Sgt. Marcus Snoddy, the 39 ABW command chief, before a chief master sergeant recognition ceremony Jan. 28, at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Alexandre Montes/Released)

Chief Recognition Ceremony

Senior Master Sgt. Brett Rodgers, the 39th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordinance Disposal Flight chief, and his wife Bernadette walk through a cordon of chief master sergeants during a chief master sergeant recognition ceremony Jan. 28, at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. The chief master sergeant recognition ceremony is one of the oldest military traditions, and honors those who achieve the highest enlisted rank in the Air Force. The Air Force only promotes 1 percent of its enlisted force to the rank of chief master sergeant. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Alexandre Montes/Released)

Chief Recognition Ceremony

Senior Master Sgt. Teresa Clapper, the 39th Force Support Squadron Manpower and Organization Section chief, and her husband Master Sgt. Michael Clapper of the 39th Civil Engineer Squadron walk through a cordon of chief master sergeants during a chief master sergeant recognition ceremony Jan. 28, at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. The chief master sergeant recognition ceremony is one of the oldest military traditions, and honors those who achieve the highest enlisted rank in the Air Force. The Air Force only promotes 1 percent of its enlisted force to the rank of chief master sergeant. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Alexandre Montes/Released)

Chief Recognition Ceremony

Chief Master Sgt. David Lawrence, the commandant of the Kisling Noncommissioned Officer Academy at Kapaun Air Station, Germany, speaks at a chief master sergeant recognition ceremony Jan. 28, at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. The chief recognition ceremony is one of the oldest military traditions, and honors those who achieve the highest enlisted rank in the Air Force. The Air Force only promotes 1 percent of its enlisted force to the rank of chief master sergeant. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Alexandre Montes/Released)

Chief Recognition Ceremony

Senior Master Sgt. Brett Rodgers, the 39th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordinance Disposal Flight chief, and Senior Master Sgt. Teresa Clapper, the 39th Force Support Squadron Manpower and Organization Section chief light a candle to symbolize their selection for promotion to the rank of chief master sergeant during a chief master sergeant recognition ceremony Jan. 28, at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. The chief master sergeant recognition ceremony is one of the oldest military traditions, and honors those who achieve the highest enlisted rank in the Air Force. The Air Force only promotes 1 percent of its enlisted force to the rank of chief master sergeant. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Alexandre Montes/Released)

Incirlik Airmen welcome new chief master sergeants

Published Feb. 3, 2011
By Senior Airman Anthony J. Hyatt
39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- Wing leadership honored two Airmen assigned to the 39th Air Base Wing who were selected for promotion to chief master sergeant at a chief master sergeant recognition ceremony here Jan. 28, at the at the Consolidated Club.

Senior Master Sgt. Brett Rogers, from the 39th Civil Engineer Squadron, and Senior Master Sgt. Teresa Clapper, from the 39th Force Support Squadron were both recognized for being selected for promotion to the highest enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force.

"Both of these Airmen are exceptional leaders, who by their actions throughout their careers demonstrated their commitment to our Airmen, to our Air Force and, most importantly, to our nation," said Chief Master Sgt. Marcus Snoddy, the 39th ABW command chief. "I'm proud to have them as members of Team Incirlik's senior noncommissioned officer corps and to call them my fellow Airmen."

Their hard work and dedication has been noticed throughout their squadrons as well.

"It didn't take long for me to realize that among all the professional members of the Force Support Squadron, Sergeant Clapper stood out as truly exceptional," said Maj. Thomas Ausherman, the 39th FSS commander. "It's no surprise that the Air Force recognized her as a member of the top 1 percent of our enlisted corps with her selection to chief master sergeant."

Five-hundred four Airmen were selected forcewide for promotion to chief master sergeant. Air Force officials considered 2,287 eligible senior master sergeants for promotion to chief for a selection rate of 22.04 percent.

"It's wonderful that the Incirlik community can come together to celebrate the selection of Senior Master Sgt. Clapper and Senior Master Sgt. Rogers to chief master sergeant, the top tier of the enlisted force structure," said Col. Eric Beene, the 39th ABW commander. "This is a very big step for both of them. Not only is it a reflection of their many years of superb performance and core values in action, it's also a statement that these two amazing Airmen have much more to give to the Air Force and to the country."

The entire list of Airmen selected for promotion to chief master sergeant can be viewed at http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/promotions/chief/index.asp.