Stable family life makes stellar career

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Marissa Tucker
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Walking past the Smith family on the street, one may assume they are a just an average, normal family. Little do they know, this husband and wife lace up their boots side by side every day to do their part in protecting and defending America.

Tech. Sgt. Elmer Smith, 4th Security Forces Squadron self inspection monitor, and Senior Airman Sara Smith, 4th Aeromedical Dental Squadron public health technician, display an ideal example of a military couple. Along with their two children, Ethan, 6, and Elijah, 3, they have become a standout family of the 4th Fighter Wing. Their dedication to family values and professional work ethic earned Sara, an Air Force brat, a below-the-zone promotion to senior airman, and Elmer, a quiet but lethal cop, a promotion to technical sergeant under the Stripes for Exceptional Performers program.

Both promotions are difficult to attain; their achievements mark the result of various review boards that assess Airmen from the base and the Air Force. Each year, less than 200 Airmen receive a promotion through the STEP program.

"It really was a big surprise," Elmer said, who joined the Air Force in 1998 from Yazoo City, Miss., and has six deployments under his belt. "I knew something was up when I saw the wing commander and then my wife come through the door clapping and jumping around. It's a good feeling to know our supervision thought enough of us to write the packages."

As the NCOIC of the self inspection section, unit fitness monitor and exercise evaluation team member, Elmer ensures regulations and guidelines are followed, helps plan and carry out wing exercises and examines the unit fitness program to ensure safety and effectiveness.

Sara, who was born in California, but traveled with her father who retired from the Air Force, received her promotion in November after competing against nine other Airmen for the stripe. As one of the first stops for every deploying member of the 4th Fighter Wing, Sara ensures each deployer is medically and physically ready before they leave and conducts reassessments when they return. Despite her demanding job, she still finds time to volunteer and serve as the Exceptional Airmen Gaining Leadership Skills and Experience group president and as a full time mother to Ethan and Elijah.

Throughout several deployments and separations, the Smiths feel they have maintained a strong marriage. Both cite good communication, an understanding of the other's career, the Air Force mission and mutual support as reasons for their success in life.

Their careers led them both to Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, where they met through mutual friends and eventually, married April 23, 2004. Sara had not yet joined the Air Force, but was waiting to leave for basic training.

Before the marriage, Elmer wanted to know if Sara could make it through a deployment, knowing his career would probably cause him to be away a lot. Sara, however, was no stranger to separation. She spent time with her family and friends, and when Elmer came back, he knew she was the one for him.

"My dad was in the Air Force and I knew I was going to do it too," Sara said. "Deployments, long hours and sacrifices have always been a part of my life so I knew what I was getting into."

Soon after, the two married and Sara enlisted in the Air Force. Since then, Elmer has deployed four times, but whenever he left, he knew Sara would "hold down the fort," while he was gone, he said.

"It makes life so much easier knowing that whenever I leave for a TDY or deployment, home is going to be taken care of," Elmer said. "When you don't have to worry about things at home, it makes it much easier to focus on the mission downrange."

The couple plans to stay in the Air Force as long as possible and encourages others to become aware of all the opportunities available to them while on active duty.

"Expand your thoughts," Elmer said. "Every stripe, assignment and office is exactly what you make of it. Don't let a bad experience shape your entire outlook on the Air Force. It's really a great life."

On maintaining a healthy, productive home and work environment, Sara suggests putting a lot of effort into both and not being afraid to be open to new things.

"In every type of relationship, work or personal, there is going to be some kind of conflict," she said. "Learning to separate them both and leave work at work and home at home helps draw the line. In the Air Force, when you work hard, no one can take your achievements away from you but you. The best feeling is having someone to share it with, who understands and strives for the same things."