Chief Master Sgts. Janet Kelley and Sean Medsker,inductees, light the chief master sergeant candle during the chief master sergeant induction ceremony at the Soundside Club on Hurlburt Field, Fla., Jan. 10, 2014. Only 1 percent of the enlisted force reaches the rank of chief master sergeant. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Michelle Vickers)

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Chiefs inducted to top 1%

Senior Master Sgt. Jefferey Sheaffer, 1st Special Operations Maintenance Group maintenance operations superintendent, and his guest arrive through the cordon during the chief master sergeant induction ceremony at the Soundside Club on Hurlburt Field, Fla., Jan. 10, 2014. Sheaffer was one of 12 inductees honored during the ceremony. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Michelle Vickers)

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Chiefs inducted to top 1%

Chief Master Sgt. Ricky Wagner, evening toastmaster, lights candles during the chief master sergeant induction ceremony at the Soundside Club on Hurlburt Field, Fla., Dec. 10, 2014. The Hurlburt Chiefs’ Group hosted the event for 12 new chief master sergeants. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Michelle Vickers)

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Chiefs inducted to top 1%

Maj. Gen. Norman Brozenick, Air Force Special Operations Command vice commander, welcomes a guest during the chief master sergeant induction ceremony at the Soundside Club on Hurlburt Field, Fla., Jan. 10, 2014. Brozenick presented medallions to the inductees during the ceremony. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Michelle Vickers)

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Chiefs inducted to top 1%

Statues representing inductees’ positions as chief master sergeants rest on a table during the chief master sergeant induction ceremony at the Soundside Club on Hurlburt Field, Fla., Jan. 10, 2014. The evening’s guest speaker, Wayne Norrad, 24th Special Operations Wing program analyst and retired chief master sergeant, and Chief Master Sgt. William Turner, Air Force Special Operations command chief, presented honorees with the statues. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Michelle Vickers)

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Chiefs inducted to top 1%

Published Jan. 13, 2014
By Senior Airman Michelle Vickers
1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- The Hurlburt Chiefs' Group hosted a chief master sergeant induction ceremony at the Soundside Club here Jan. 10.

The ceremony marked 12 chief master sergeants and chief master sergeant selects joining the top 1 percent of the enlisted Air Force.

Maj. Gen. Norman Brozenick, Air Force Special Operations Command vice commander, presented the new chiefs with medallions marking them as honorees. The chiefs also lit candles representing each enlisted rank to symbolize the steps they took during their careers.

The evening's guest speaker, Wayne Norrad, 24th Special Operations Wing program analyst and retired chief master sergeant, reminded the new chiefs of their added levels of responsibility.

"Don't forget to look in the mirror," Norrad said. "Those are real chief master sergeant stripes; now focus on the person behind the stripes. What are you? Be a chief, not an E-9."

Chief master sergeants and chief master sergeant selects honored at the ceremony included:

Senior Master Sgt. Shawn Aiello, 1st Special Operations Support Squadron
Senior Master Sgt. Jason Aleksa, 361st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group
Chief Master Sgt. Janet Kelley, 505th Combat Training Squadron
Senior Master Sgt. Manuel Martinez, AFSOC
Chief Master Sgt. Sean Medsker, 4th Special Operations Squadron
Senior Master Sgt. Tonya Polomsky, 27th Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Senior Master Sgt. Lyle Rosin, AFSOC
Senior Master Sgt. Jefferey Sheaffer, 1st Special Operations Maintenance Group
Senior Master Sgt. Michael Stockdale, 320th Special Tactics Squadron
Senior Master Sgt. Michael Taylor, 1st Special Operations Communications Squadron
Senior Master Sgt. Richard Toppa Jr., AFSOC
Senior Master Sgt. Robert West, Joint Special Operations University Enlisted Academy