Trade in uniform blouse for 'shirt'

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Erica Stewart
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  "The [first sergeant] is the glue that binds a unit together," said Rodney McKinley, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force, in "The Enlisted Perspective," published May 5, 2008.

In that same document, the world's greatest air, space, and cyberspace force's chief touched on this career field's dwindling numbers.

"Currently, the Air Force is in dire need of first sergeants," Chief McKinley said.

Just like the complex molecular structure of glue, a first sergeant, or "shirt", has to be made of distinct qualities to successfully complete their role in the Air Force mission.

It is speculated that the term 'shirt' derived from colonial times.

"In spite of the fact that the Air Force is a fairly young service, nobody seems to know where the nickname 'shirt'originated," said Master Sgt. Stephen Barsalou, 39th Wing Staff Agencies, 39th Mission Support Group staff, 39th Operations Squadron and 39th Force Support Squadron first sergeant. "One theory is that the term dates back to colonial times; when supplies would come in, the Top Sergeant would get the "first shirt" before the rest of the troops did."

Getting the "first shirt" was a sign of respect long ago, however, the role of today's "shirt" is completely different.

"A 'shirt' has to be able to multi-task and is on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week," said Master Sgt. Douglas Koonst, 39th Communications Squadron first sergeant.

Though this sounds like a tireless job, it doesn't come without training.

"To become a 'shirt' you have to put in a formal package, be endorsed by your command chief, have completed your professional military education and, finally, be formally interviewed," said Sergeant Barsalou. "If you're accepted, you attend the Air Force First Sergeant Academy where you learn skills necessary to fullfill a three-year commitment to be an effective 'shirt' during a three-week course.

According to the Air Force First Sergeants Academy official Web site, 'Shirts' learn to dedicate their time and energy to the needs, health, morale, discipline and welfare of Air Force members.

"Though the school teaches us how to properly handle almost any situations, be it a personal or professional matter, the basic instinct is already there if you truly love to help others and that's what makes a good 'shirt'," said Sergeant Barsalou.

Even though the job isn't turning wrenches on the flight line or diffusing bombs down range, a first sergeant's service is critical to the Air Force mission.

"It is different not being able to watch my plane take off on a mission at the end of my day," said Sergeant Koonst. "Instead, I leave the office with a different, but satisfied feeling inside knowing that some way, somehow, I have helped someone out or had a positive impact on my unit."

For more information on the first sergeant program, please contact your squadron's first sergeant, or the wing's command chief.