The Diamond Bunch

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Heather Heiney
  • 403rd Wing Public Affairs
First sergeants are often the ones who have to enforce order and discipline and hold themselves to a higher standard. However, just like everyone else, they’re more complex than the person seen at the surface. The 403rd Wing first sergeants are a diverse group of Reserve Citizen Airmen who serve their people and work in a wide range of fields including education, medicine and real estate. 

 

As part of a Facebook series titled The Diamond Bunch, each of the 403rd Wing first sergeants were asked how they balance their military and civilian roles, what three things other people might not know about them, and why they wanted to become a first sergeant.

 

Here are their responses.

 

Chief Master Sgt. M. Michelle Santiago, 403rd Maintenance Squadron, works as a project manager for the Department of Agriculture when not in uniform. She said her key to balancing military and civilian life is using a desk blotter calendar that hangs behind her bedroom door to track all her and her husband’s appointments and whereabouts. Three things she said other people may not know about her are that she’s a mischievous prankster, a roller coaster fanatic and prefers being a wallflower. She also said she wanted to become a first sergeant to pay it forward.

 

“I've had such a blessed military career that has afforded me opportunities in my civil service career, enabled me to meet wonderful people, and work for some great bosses and alongside fantastic peers,” Santiago said. “Paying it forward is the least I can do.”

Master Sgt. Graysen Walles, 403rd Logistics Readiness Squadron, works in education when he’s not in uniform. He said his key to balancing different roles is taking it one day at a time. Three things he said people may not know about him are that he enjoys cooking and grilling, he’s earned a doctorate degree in educational leadership, and his nickname is Tubby.
He also said that he wanted to become a first sergeant to serve.

 

“I enjoy being in a position to ensure our Airmen are mission ready, as well as serving their needs,” Walles said. “It's a gift to be in our position as first sergeants.”

Master Sgt. Krystal Knight, 36th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, works as an advanced emergency medical technician with the Mobile County Emergency Medical Services when not in uniform. She said she balances her roles by tracking great and small errands and tasks in her phone with alarms and reminders. Two things she said people might not know about her are that she graduated high school in Germany and is a novice drummer. She also said she wanted to become a first sergeant because she’s on a personal mission to make a positive impact on as many lives as she can.

 

Master Sgt. Matthew Leonard, 403rd Force Support Squadron, works as a medical practice manager for an optometry clinic when not in uniform. He said he balances his roles by striving to take care of business as effectively and efficiently as possible and by giving due diligence and focus to whatever each day presents. Three things he said most people don't know about him are that he’s the youngest of seven siblings, his father retired as a chief master sergeant in the Louisiana Air National Guard, and he has a passion for travel. He also said he wanted to become a first sergeant to be there for others.

 

“I had the desire to positively support other military members during both the highs and lows of their careers and remind them we are all in this together,” Leonard said.

Master Sgt. Stacey McDonald, 403rd Aeromedical Staging Squadron, works as a licensed practical nurse, clinical supervisor and lab manager when not in uniform. She said she balances her roles very carefully and is very open and upfront with her civilian employer regarding her responsibilities to the Air Force Reserve. Three things she said most people don't know about her are that she was born and raised in North Carolina, is uncomfortable being in the spotlight, and prefers to work behind the scenes but not shy away from opportunities. She said she wanted to become a first sergeant to be there for other members and help make sure they are being taken care of.

 

“I also wanted to challenge myself to take on a role that would be rewarding and help me to become a better senior noncommissioned officer,” McDonald said.  

Master Sgt. Dionni Henderson, 41st Aerial Port Squadron, works as a pharmacy technician at the Armed Forces Retirement Home when not in uniform. He said balancing his roles is easy for him here in Biloxi because the community is very supportive of the military. Three things he said most people don't know about him are that he likes bonsai trees, he doesn’t have Facebook, and he drives a stick shift truck. He also said he wanted to become a first sergeant to pay it forward.

Master Sgt. Joshua Ratcliffe, 403rd Operations Support Squadron, works as a certified surgical technologist at Gulfport Memorial Hospital when not in uniform. He said the key he has discovered to balancing his roles is to express the importance of his military career to his civilian employer because it makes it easier to request time away from them. Three things he said most people don't know about him are he has a closet Call of Duty addiction; his wife, Bethany, is a captain in the Army Reserve; and he has a 24-year-old daughter, Karli. He also said he wanted to become a first sergeant to honor his previous first sergeant Senior Master Sgt. David "Hoot" Warner.

 

“He did it right and never have I met a better mentor,” Ratcliffe said. “I would like to be the first sergeant that he was for me and countless others.”

 

Master Sgt. Wendy Corbett, 403rd Security Force Squadron, works as a realtor in Louisiana when she’s not in uniform. She said that while finding balance is a challenge for her and sometimes she’s not as successful as she wants to be, she uses two separate colored legal pads that help her stay organized and also tries to make sure and schedule "me time" when she can. Three things she said most people don't know about her are that she rarely backs down from a challenge, she’s a huge animal lover, and she loves Winnie the Pooh. She also said she wanted to become a first sergeant because she felt like she had more to offer to the Airmen and much to gain as a diamond.

 

“I want to be a positive leader, mentor and Airman,” Corbett said. “Most days I feel like I get it right.”

 

Master Sgt. Demetrice White, 815th Airlift Squadron and 403rd Operations Group, works as a Science Technology Engineering and Math instructor when not in uniform. She said she balances her roles by taking it one day at a time, planning according to importance and the support system she receives from her husband, Daryn White. Three things she said most people don't know about her are that she’s a Virgo, very observant and can come across as dominant but is actually quite passionate.  She also said she wanted to become a first sergeant to serve as a mentor by providing positive guidance to Airmen.

 

Master Sgt. Bryan Forrest, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, works in computer design and drafting for a civil engineering business when not in uniform. He said he balances his roles by doing what needs to be done in one role while not losing awareness of the other. Three things he said most people don't know about him are that he’s an avid novel reader, he made a bird feeder out of bamboo that attracts a lot of varied species of birds and he thinks he’s funny. He also said he wanted to become a first sergeant to have a chance to take on a different challenge and help folks.