Stepping up to lead Published Feb. 11, 2016 By Staff Reports 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. -- One of Mighty Ninety’s own earned another stripe on his uniform that he wasn’t expecting. Today, Tech. Sgt. Toby Harter, 90th Missile Wing Airman Leadership School Professional Military Education instructor, received that unexpected stripe or “STEP” up yesterday thanks to the Stripes for Exceptional Performers program. The program supplements existing Airmen promotion programs and is designed to accommodate unique circumstances that, in the commander's judgment, clearly warrant promotion. “Harter is more than ready to be a technical sergeant,” said Master Sgt. April Borecki, 90th MW ALS commandant. “He takes his role as a PME instructor very seriously and is the type of person any Airmen at this school would try to emulate. I am proud and expect great things from him.” In addition to promoting deserving enlisted members to staff sergeant or technical sergeant, a unique part of the program is unlike promotions through the Weighted Airmen Promotion System, which assigns a line number that determines what month an Airmen will promote, STEP promotions are immediate. This means Airmen wear their new rank the same day they are informed. “I was a little taken aback,” Harter said. “I know the responsibility is more and so are the expectations, but I’m ready for that. This means that people recognized the hard work I was doing to make our ALS school house one of the best and that hard work really does take you a long way.” Borecki said that Harter isn’t the only one excited as his unit is looking forward to him continuing to lead and step up to new responsibilities that go with the STEP promotion.