Interviews return for quarterly awards

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Daryl Knee
  • 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs
F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. --  As of this quarter, Airmen selected for awards at the 90th Missile Wing will see the return of an in-person, board interviews. 

The board evaluation is a test in which a group of no less than four senior NCOs grade an Airman's capacity in bearing, customs and courtesies, professionalism, appearance 
and other topics. 

The Air Force as a whole slipped away from doing the interviews because of the operation tempo sometime in late 2001, said Chief Master Sgt. Tammy Elliott, 90th MW command chief. Now, there's no compelling reason to not do the boards. 

With the way quarterly awards are done at present, she said, board members often choose the Airman who has a supervisor with superior writing skills. Instituting the next part of the evaluation process reveals the Airmen who can think on their feet. 

"Leaders," Chief Elliott said. "The Air Force needs future leaders who can step up to this challenge. 

"[Board evaluations] will scare the pants off of you when you do it," she said with a laugh. 
"But, you come out a better Airman." 

The boards not only develop the Airman being tested, Chief Elliot said, but the members of the board. Those senior NCOs relearn or re-identify attributes great leaders possess. 

"It is also very important to reinforce the basics with our enlisted corps," she said. "Right now, the only time an Airman cracks open the Professional Development Guide, is to prepare for promotion testing. This implies that the information is only of value to get oneself promoted. 

"Nothing could be further from the truth," Chief Elliott said. "Our Airmen need to learn 'all things enlisted,' including enlisted history, as a matter of identity and pride." 

However, some Airmen have voiced a concern about setting a firm date for the quarterly award board evaluation to take place. For example, many Airmen may not be able to participate in the evaluation if they are deployed either in place or abroad. 

For the in-place deployments, "if it is important enough for you (a supervisor) to put your troop up for a wing-level award," Chief Elliott said, "you owe it to them to allow a chance to compete. Take them off of a schedule that day." 

Also, Airmen who are deployed abroad already have an increased chance to be recognized, she said. Those Airmen who send their work bullets from a deployed environment to the home base always stand out in a package-only evaluation. 

"For lack of a better word, those Airmen are double-dipping," she said. "Requiring the interview boards creates a fair scope for all to compete and does not deny anyone an opportunity for recognition." 

Chief Elliott encouraged units to hold mock boards as a way to practice and hone evaluation skills. 

"Once you go [into the board room,] you're on your own," she said. "Step up to the challenge."