STEP

Members of the 4th Equipment Maintenance Squadron look on as Tech Sgt. Todd Ely has his new stripes pinned on after a surprise promotion Dec. 24, 2008 here at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. The Stripes for Extraordinary Performers programs rewards outstanding Airmen with promotions outside of their promotion cycle. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Whitney Stanfield)

Equipment maintainer receives surprise promotion

Published Jan. 23, 2009
By Staff Sgt. Shawn J. Jones
4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- An aerospace ground equipment maintainer from the 4th Equipment Maintenance Squadron received a surprise promotion here Dec. 24.

Technical Sgt. Todd Ely had spent 12 years in the Air Force - six as a staff sergeant - when he received the surprise promotion.

The Stripes for Exceptional Performers program awards outstanding Airmen with a promotion to the next rank given by the wing commander outside of the standard promotion cycle. Due to few STEP promotions being available each year, the wing commander must be extremely selective.

Several factors were taken into consideration in choosing Sergeant Ely. He earned the distinction of being an outstanding performer during his last operational readiness inspection and managed to cut mishaps by 36 percent after he took control of his squadron's safety program.

His supervisor, Tech. Sgt. Eric Pastor, said Sergeant Ely has displayed continued dedication to mission requirements throughout his career and has 12 years of performance reports that are covered with the words excellent, outstanding, and best.