News

ALS instructor pins on technical sergeant through STEP promotion

  • Published
  • By Holly Birchfield
  • 78th ABW/PA
Robins Air Force Base, GA --  Staff Sgt. John Besselman, an instructor at the Robins Airman Leadership School, took a recent, unexpected 'commander's call' Jan. 24 as an opportunity to let his students learn about leadership from the installation commander.

But, when Col. Warren Berry, 78th Air Base Wing commander, arrived for the event early that morning, Sergeant Besselman, who has been at Robins almost two years, learned that students would be taking a lesson from him instead.

In a matter of minutes, the staff sergeant became a technical sergeant through a Stripes for Exceptional Performers promotion, an unexpected, on-the-spot promotion awarded on the merits of hard work and superior dedication to the mission. Sergeant Besselman's STEP promotion was one of three additional nominees sent up to Air Force Materiel Command for consideration.

Sergeant Besselman said he never suspected anything out of the ordinary the day he got the promotion. "It was just a normal workday," he said.

After Sergeant Besselman and other instructors got into their lessons and took their usual break, students and instructors headed to the school's auditorium to hear a few words from Colonel Berry.

As Colonel Berry talked with the students about leadership and how hard it must be for ALS instructors to teach their peers about leadership, he turned his attention toward Sergeant Besselman.

The commander called the ALS instructor forward, which piqued Sergeant Besselman's curiosity.

"The first thing I thought was, 'okay, he's using me as an example because I'm the newest professional military education instructor," Sergeant Besselman said. "So I'm up there and he's saying a few things like, 'He's got a nice haircut, uniform is pressed, boots are shined, and he says, 'So, Tech. Sgt. Besselman...", and I think, "What's going on?"

As Sergeant Besselman stood a bit confused, Chief Master Sgt. Carol Dockery, WR-ALC and 78th ABW command chief, pointed out to Colonel Berry that the Airman was in fact a staff sergeant.

A few short moments later, Colonel Berry announced Sergeant Besselman's promotion to technical sergeant.

As Sergeant Besselman stood in shock, yet another surprise was revealed - Shannon Besselman, the NCO's wife of nine years, and the couple's 5-year-old daughter, Alyssa, were there to share the moment. Mrs. Besselman said the day was packed with emotion.

"They had (my daughter and me) in different rooms," she said. "We were stuck in dark rooms...where nobody could see us and then when we finally got to go in, he still had no idea we were there. He didn't even catch on until Colonel Berry said he was now a tech sergeant."

For Sergeant Besselman, the fact that his wife kept the secret was one of the biggest surprises.

"For my wife to know and not tell me, that was amazing because she's the one that tells me what I got for Christmas the week before Christmas. That's how bad she can't keep secrets," he said.

Sergeant Ogle, who has been the school's flight chief since April 2006, said Sergeant Besselman has proven that he's one of the best instructors out of the 72 ALSs worldwide.

"Sergeant Besselman's being able to pin on that tech stripe at nine years (in service) is still head and shoulders above the average sew on time for tech," he said. "But, you're looking at a young man who in those nine years has gotten a bachelor's degree and he's three classes from completing his master's degree. He does all of that while he's staying up on the current curriculum he helped develop and write over the summer. So, he's that kind of guy."

Mrs. Besselman is certainly excited about her husband's step forward.

"He has been working so hard and he's so dedicated, so I felt it was definitely well worth it. I'm so proud of him."

Sergeant Besselman said he's fortunate to receive the promotion.

"I just think it's a great honor," he said. "There are thousands of other people that are eligible for it. I'm just proud I was the one that got accepted and promoted. It was an awesome honor for me."