Trading stripes for bars

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Justin Weaver
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  Two Airmen with promising Air Force enlisted careers were notified they would be leaving their stripes behind and picking up a set of new gold bars.

Staff Sergeants Jessica Steinhoff, 31st Comptroller Squadron, and Colleen Delawder, 31st Communication Squadron, were notified April 23 by their commanders that they had been selected for Officer Training School.

Sergeant Steinhoff was at a squadron commander's call when she received the news.

"I thought we were there to talk about the ongoing inspection," Sergeant Steinhoff said. "I couldn't believe it, I was so surprised."

Sergeant Delawder was in her office when the building was called to attention. As she waited to be told "at ease," her commander, Lt. Col. Billie Early, informed her she needed to discuss her uniform. Nervously, Sergeant Delawder held her breath until Colonel Early opened up her hand and presented her with two "butter bars."

"I'm looking forward to helping out people and making a difference," said Sergeant Delawder, who has a bachelor's in computer studies from the University of Maryland University College. "I get to do that as an NCO, but as an officer, I feel I'd be able to do that on a much larger scale."

Sergeant Delawder will be returning to the communications career field where she has worked for the past nine years.

"Just knowing that if I could just finish [school], I would be able to apply for OTS and hopefully become an officer kept me motivated," the mother of three said. "I like pushing myself and of course the sense of accomplishment is great."

The 31st CS deputy commander was thrilled to hear about her selection to OTS.

"As a prior enlisted officer, I understand how much of an accomplishment and joy this is for Sergeant Delawder," Capt. Scott Roberts said. "Those who follow her as an officer will be very pleased by the maturity of her decisions and her genuine care for the mission and people."

Sergeant Steinhoff is cashing in her finance career to become a space and missile officer. She is excited to be selected for a commission and looks forward to the challenges of a new career field.

"I wanted a commission so I could impact more people at a greater level," Sergeant Steinhoff said, who graduated with a business administration degree from Saint Leo University, Fl. "This [career field] will be a little more challenging and adventurous than I'm used to, but I'm excited about the opportunity the Air Force has given me."

Sergeant Steinhoff completed her degree taking night and online classes.

"I finished all my college classes in the Air Force and I see this as my way of giving back to what they've given me," she said. "The tuition is free and there is no reason not to take advantage of that."

For the 31st CPTS commander, it was a bittersweet notification.

"The Air Force made a great decision in allowing her to pursue a commission," Maj. Derren Burrell. "She is a tremendous asset and one of the best NCOs I've ever worked with."

For more information on commissioning programs, call the education office at 632-5785 or 632-5330.