First sergeants vital to maintaining good order and discipline

  • Published
  • By Airman Ryan Conroy
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  When Airmen hear that the first sergeant is looking for them, a number of thoughts race through their minds, trying to consider what they might be in trouble for. Although first sergeants play a hand in discipline, some might misunderstand their role in the process.

In the U.S. Air Force, first sergeant is a special duty held by a senior enlisted member of a military unit who reports directly to the unit commander. Commonly referred to as 'first shirt' or 'shirt', first sergeants serve a distinctive role in the enlisted force structure.

First sergeants have an obligation to ensure their unit is mission ready at all times, and correcting behavior harmful to good order and discipline plays an integral role in maintaining that readiness.

"The intent of discipline is to make sure the unit is focused," said Senior Master Sgt. Juancarlos Cueto, 31st Security Forces Squadron first sergeant. "The most effective way to ensure Airmen are focused is communicating that there is a standard they have to adhere to."

Although decisions on discipline might differ from first sergeant to first sergeant, one consensus between the Aviano shirts is to try and handle every situation at the lowest level possible.

"We try to deal with things in house," said Senior Master Sgt. Micheal Edie, 31st Medical Group first sergeant. "This can range from a talking to and administrative action to a more severe punishment such as an article 15, which is rare."

While most issues can be dealt through non-judicial punishment, some problems are out of first sergeant's hands. Things such as drug use or other Uniformed Code of Military Justice violations are cut and dry issues, but first shirts still look out for their Airmen.

"Even when they are being helped out of the military, we treat our Airmen with dignity and respect," said Edie. "We ensure their transition from the Air Force to civilian life is fluid and that they're set up for success."

But, how does a first sergeant come to a conclusion on a disciplinary infraction? The process might be more difficult than imagined. Although an order is broken or there has been an infraction, first sergeants must investigate the reason behind the transgression.

"In any type of action, we always dig deeper," said Edie. "We sit down and talk with the person, we talk to everyone who works with them and we look at their background. Why is this person acting up? Did he just return from a deployment? These are the questions we have to ask ourselves."

As senior enlisted leaders, first sergeants use their years of experience to help mentor and develop younger Airmen, remembering what is was like to be new to the military.

"When I was a young airman basic, I had trouble adapting to military standards and the way of life," said Cueto. "If I hadn't been sat down and talked to and mentored, I would have never made it right. Now, I've been a shirt for seven years. My hope is to have success stories like mine."

Above all, first sergeants want to be viewed as approachable and settle any apprehensions or fears Airmen may have bringing their problems to their shirt.

"If Airmen find their first sergeant unapproachable, they need to talk to their supervisors and they need to tell us," said Cueto. "If people don't want to come talk to us about their problems, we're not truly effective."

Edie and Cueto both rely on supervisors within their units to set a standard and lead by example.

"Ironically enough, supervisors are the 'first' sergeant that Airmen go to in their chain of command," said Cueto. "They need to set expectations and lead their Airmen because good order and discipline starts at the bottom."

First sergeants are in this special duty position because someone saw them fit to handle a unit. Shirts aren't just gloom and doom; they're looking out for their Airmen.