STEP

Technical Sgt. Lillian Barnes, 4th Force Support Squadron, has her new stripes pinned on by her husband, Staff Sgt. Richard Barnes III and 2nd Lieutenant Kelli Sutphen 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)

Surprise promotion shocks noncommissioned officer

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

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- A noncommissioned officer from the 4th Force Support Squadron received a surprise promotion here Dec. 24.

Technical Sgt. Lillian Barnes, 4th FSS NCO in charge of personnel readiness, had served nearly ten years in the Air Force - four as a staff sergeant - upon receiving 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.

Sergeant Barnes said she was truly surprised when Colonel Mark Kelly, 4th Fighter Wing commander, came to her office to single her out for the on-the-spot promotion.

"I was so shocked that my face turned red and I almost cried," she said.

Several factors were taken into consideration in choosing Sergeant Barnes for the promotion, including her track record of earning multiple individual and team awards during inspections throughout her career.

Sergeant Barnes said she expects her promotion to provide a new perspective on supervision.

"I am a leader now," she said. "Not only to my Airmen, but to my junior NCOs as well."