1
00:00:00,515 --> 00:00:07,880
The First Sergeant’s realm is always looking for Members to come join us here at the 403rd or across the Air Force Reserve.

2
00:00:10,153 --> 00:00:17,783
I am Master Sergeant Benjamin Rowe and I’m the First Sergeant at the 41st Aerial Port Squadron. A First Sergeant is vital

3
00:00:18,389 --> 00:00:27,125
to a squadron, a wing, a unit, everything. The First Sergeant is the catalyst of success for a unit. You have to have experience

4
00:00:27,549 --> 00:00:34,415
but you also have to have empathy and understanding for your members. You also have to have a dedication to excellence, setting the standard that

5
00:00:34,878 --> 00:00:41,168
you are holding other to, as well as, supporting your commander, your chief, and your triad. It really started to get in my mind when

6
00:00:41,168 --> 00:00:46,967
I was a unit training manager. Of course, I dealt with new Airmen a lot that were coming into the unit and new to the Air Force and

7
00:00:47,253 --> 00:00:53,911
I’ve always been a talker, gift of gab, and so I would sit and talk to them about things that weren’t necessarily training related,

8
00:00:54,199 --> 00:01:01,057
just see how they’re going and what’s going on in their lives, and 
so, eventually what happened is they would come to me with

9
00:01:01,315 --> 00:01:07,478
issues that 
they had or come to me for advice or guidance and that really planted the seed of maybe this is something I should look into.

10
00:01:08,335 --> 00:01:15,184
So, when you put that diamond for the first time, it’s super rewarding and exciting. You put it on your chest, you feel proud

11
00:01:15,780 --> 00:01:22,024
and you know you’re among the few that are First Sergeants. Not everyone can serve as a First Sergeant, not everyone will serve

12
00:01:22,569 --> 00:01:27,901
as a First Sergeant, but you know you’re that first line of defense to make sure everyone is taken care of.