News

Enlisted aide surprised by STEP promotion as new year begins

  • Published
  • By Holly Birchfield
  • 78 ABW/PA
Robins Air Force Base, Ga. --  The beginning of 2008 brought more than new beginnings for one technical sergeant. It brought him a new rank.

Tech. Sgt. Jeff Gombos, an enlisted aide to Maj. Gen. Tom Owen, Warner Robins Air Logistics Center commander, knew that a package for a Stripes for Exceptional Performance promotion had been put in on his behalf. But after the package for the STEP promotion, an unexpected, on-the-spot promotion, went forward, the Airman put it out of his mind.

That is until Jan. 3 when he was surprised by the news in an unusual way.

When Sergeant Gombos isn't working around General Owen's home, ensuring his uniforms are in top shape, arranging dinners for special guests and other matters, he fills in for the general's executive officer, Lt. Col. Ryan Britton. So, when Colonel Britton asked the sergeant to brief the general for a video teleconference just three days into the New Year, he stepped up to the task.

"I got a call from Lt. Col. Britton. He had a personal appointment that he needed to take care of. I had gone up to fill in for him in the past so this wasn't something out of the ordinary," he said.

Sergeant Gombos came to prepare the general for a supposed video teleconference.

"They had a bunch of different things they said he had to go do, so everything seemed to be real to me," Sergeant Gombos said. "I had gone in there and I would usually sit behind him to take notes or, if he needed something, I could run and get it. I didn't think anything was going on because there was nobody there."

Little to Sergeant Gombos' knowledge, quite a few people were nearby, including his wife, Jennifer, and 9-year-old son, Kevin, both of whom kept his on-the-spot promotion a secret.

As Sergeant Gombos reviewed a folder of documents needing to be signed by the general, he noticed his name listed as someone getting a STEP promotion.

"I looked at it and read it and I was surprised," he said. "I looked up at General Owen, but he was (still talking) and I didn't want to interrupt so I thought, 'is this for real?' As soon as I did that, they all came out and said, 'surprise," and flashed 'Congratulations Master Sgt. Gombos' on the screen and all of that."

Sergeant Gombos said he was impressed by the great length his col leagues took to surprise him.

"I really appreciate this," he said. "I think everybody did a great job surprising me and pulling this off. I know it took a lot for them to do that and I appreciate them taking the time."

Colonel Britton, one of a few who helped orchestrate the phony VTC to cover up the surprise, said the promotion was well deserved.

"Through the numerous deployments that (Sergeant) Gombos had as a crew chief on the KC-135 and then following that up with his support to multiple general officers in helping them to do their day-to-day activities, I can think of no more deserving Airman for this STEP promotion. He's definitely earned it through his hard work and dedication."

Chief Master Sgt. Carol Dockery, command chief in the 78th Air Base Wing, said the STEP program recognizes hard working Airmen like Sergeant Gombos in a special way.

"The philosophy of the STEP program is straight forward," she said. "Each fiscal year since 1982, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force allows commanders and senior Air Force officers an opportunity to reward outstanding, hard-working Airmen who have the potential to shoulder increased responsibility immediate, unexpected promotions. Everyone knows the most visible part of this process; the celebration that occurs when commanders, supervisors and family members enthusiastically paste a fresh set of stripes on the promotee's sleeve. However, the journey that occurs behind the scenes is a good news story as well."

Chief Dockery said a board of four highly respected and experienced chief master sergeants from various functional backgrounds wrestled through a sea of very competitive packages before deciding on the most deserving Airman.

"This wasn't an easy board," she said. "I credit the supervisors who diligently primed these future leaders for success. They definitely deserve a hearty pat on the back. At the end of the day, there's no substitute for leadership."

General Owen said while the recommendation to STEP promote Sergeant Gombos belonged to a local panel of chief master sergeants, he certainly agreed with the choice.

"I am very pleased to be able to recognize the stellar accomplishments throughout the career of Sergeant Jeff Gombos," he said. "I asked Chief Master Sgt. Dockery to put together a representative panel of chiefs from throughout the WR-ALC organizations to ensure we picked the most deserving Airman to receive this honor. Sergeant Gombos' recommendation by this panel to be STEP promoted was a significant feat based on the level of competition. I was pleased to endorse the panel's recommendation. I know he will continue the trend of superior senior NCO performance as a member of the Top 3."

Sergeant Gombos said his new rank is something he's adjusting to.

"I guess it almost overwhelmed me, almost like it's not believable," he said. "I had to look at that paper again and when I was reading that, it almost went to a blur because I had to let it sink in. I've just got to let it sink in a bit. I'm just so excited and overwhelmed."