Four Hurlburt Airmen STEP into holidays with new rank

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Angela Shepherd
  • 1st SOW Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  Two technical sergeants and two staff sergeants from Hurlburt Field unexpectedly moved up a pay grade and received an early dose of holiday cheer Dec. 18 when Col. Norman Brozenick, 1st Special Operations Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. James Kradel, 1st SOW command chief master sergeant, surprised them with promotions under the Stripes for Exceptional Performers program.

The deserving Airmen who received the promotions are Master Sgt. Byron Allen, 1st Special Operations Support Squadron; Master Sgt. Chad Johnson, 1st Special Operations Security Forces Squadron; Tech. Sgt. Francis Yatco, 1st SOSS; and Tech. Sgt. Cynthia Porras, 1st Special Operations Medical Operations Squadron.

Each of the Airmen were surprised in different ways.

"The chief of 1st SOG weapons and tactics, Maj. John Buchanan, who submitted my STEP package, called a 'fake' meeting at 4:30 p.m. that day," Sergeant Allen said. "Thirty minutes later, when he was struggling to keep the meeting going, I realized something was up when I saw my wife come in with Colonel Brozenick."

After reading some of Sergeant Allen's accomplishments, the wing commander, command chief and Chief Master Sgt. Thomas Duley tacked on his new stripes.

"I was very surprised, but mostly, I'm grateful to my bosses for putting me in for the stripe," Sergeant Allen said.

The STEP program extends commanders an opportunity to recognize and promote Airmen who demonstrate exceptional potential to the ranks of staff sergeant through master sergeant.