Airman nabs last USAFE stripe

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Michael O'Connor
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  An Aviano technical sergeant received the final U.S. Air Forces in Europe promotion for fiscal year 2007 as part of the Stripes for Exceptional Performers Program on Sept. 20. 

The announcement came on the eve of the now Master Sgt. George Bauerlein's Air Expeditionary Force deployment in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. 

Col. Monty Brock, 31st Fighter Wing vice commander, presented the stripes on behalf of Gen. Tom Hobbins, USAFE commander. 

"This promotion came as a total surprise to me and is a huge reflection on my entire work center," said Sergeant Bauerlein, 31st Communications Squadron non-commissioned officer in charge of the airfield systems shop. "I've been here [roughly 18 months] and the enlisted and civilians in the shop continue to display a high level of professionalism as they exceed the standards every day. Their efforts put me on a pedestal where any work center supervisor/NCOIC in my position couldn't help but be noticed by their peers and leadership. "

"This is their stripe as much as it is mine and if I could have them all STEP promoted, I would," said Sergeant Bauerlein. 

The way Sergeant Bauerlein was notified of his promotion was done by the traditional textbook definition of how Air Force leaders present a STEP promotee his/her stripes--Sergeant Bauerlein was taken totally by surprise. 

"It was very smooth the way Colonel Brock announced my STEP promotion," said Sergeant Bauerlein. 

He attended the unit formation and talked about the unit's success in staying DUI-free, the wing's recent F-16 crash, and then transitioned to talk about the airfield systems shop for the great job they do in support of the flying mission here and asked for them to raise their hands to be recognized. 

"Colonel Brock said one of us is in a different uniform and he motioned for me to step forward," said Sergeant Bauerlein. "It was at that moment I realized I was the only person wearing the Desert Camouflage Uniform and felt a little uncomfortable as I made my way to the front of the formation." 

The colonel said, "It looks like you're getting ready to deploy but there's something wrong with your uniform," before proceeding to promote him on the spot in front of his peers.