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General Lorenz selects MDG Airman for STEP

  • Published
  • By Scott Knuteson
  • Air University Public Affairs
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. --  "The Air Force no longer needs Staff Sgt. Shawone Riser," said Lt. Gen. Allen Peck, the Air University commander, to an impromptu gathering Wednesday at the 42nd Medical Group.

Silence ... A nervous giggle from someone in the audience ...

But, he added, to wild cheers and applause, "As of now, she is promoted to technical sergeant."

Gen. Stephen Lorenz, commander of Air Education and Training Command, hand-selected Sergeant Riser out of nominations from wings throughout the major command.

Stripes for Exceptional Performers, or STEP promotions, are given to Air Force commanders in very limited numbers. The 42nd Air Base Wing was not allotted a stripe this time, based on manning levels. Thus, Sergeant Riser's name was allowed to be secretly submitted by 42nd ABW leadership to AETC for consideration for one of their STEP promotions.

No one knew of General Lorenz's decision until late the day before, when Col. Kris Beasley, 42nd ABW commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Mark Repp, 42nd ABW command chief, were notified and began planning the following day's surprise.

Staff members from throughout the medical group gathered the next morning under the pretense that Colonel Beasley wanted to speak to them briefly.

"I figured somebody was getting something, but I didn't know what was going on," Sergeant Riser said.

After speaking briefly and announcing a separate, below-the-zone promotion for another Airman, Colonel Beasley pretended the audience was dismissed, only to stop them in their tracks and turn the floor over to General Peck, who broke the news about Sergeant Riser.

Asked by General Peck whether Sergeant Riser works hard, dozens of her colleagues answered with a resounding "Yes!" that could be heard throughout the spacious lobby.

Sergeant Riser is the NCOIC of medical information systems and the acting chief of information systems for the 42nd MDG. She has deployed three times since 2004, two of which were in the last two years.

"Sergeant Riser is an outstanding senior NCO. She took her experience from the Medical Group to the AOR during her deployments," said Senior Master Sgt. Richard Bullock, the superintendent of the 42nd Medical Support Squadron. "Her section here is short-manned, but they're not missing a beat. They're down two people, and she's doing everything she can to make sure it stays afloat."

Sergeant Riser's unit services more than 2,500 pieces of equipment throughout the building, responding to technical support requests from the entire 42nd MDG.

After General Peck's startling announcement and amid calls from the audience to say a few words, Sergeant Riser struggled to find any.

"I just want to say thank you to everyone. I wouldn't have received this promotion without you," she said with a tear in her eye. "I am overwhelmed."