Flying high at Northern Edge 2011

  • Published
  • By Maj. Alysia Harvey
  • Northern Edge Joint Information Bureau
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  As planes take off for their final missions and Northern Edge 2011 prepares to come to an end June 24, some exercise participants at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, will continue flying high into the weekend, having received news today they were selected for promotion.

Air Force officials selected 8,545 of 34,257 eligible staff sergeants for promotion to technical sergeant, and those selected will be promoted according to their promotion sequence number beginning in August.

Staff Sgt. Lakisha Croley, a photographer assigned to the 18th Wing Public Affairs office at Kadena Air Base, Japan, but currently tasked to the Joint Information Bureau here, said she cried when she received the news.

"My friend in San Antonio and I had planned to look at the list together, so I called her this morning when the list was posted," explained Sergeant Croley, a native of Teaneck, New Jersey.

She went on to say her friend was not selected unfortunately, and she told Sergeant Croley she didn't recall seeing her name either, but encouraged her to check the list for herself. Sergeant Croley opted to check her Facebook page instead.

"Initially, I saw a notice on my Yahoo messenger that said 'awesome - congrats', but I thought it was congrats for something else," the new technical sergeant select said. "But, when I opened my Facebook page, I saw messages from my [previous] supervisor, then my husband, and then I burst into tears," she said, adding that the crying surprised her because she is not a very emotional person.

Staff Sgt. George Pastere, 18th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron also at Kadena Air Base, said he was ecstatic.

"I saw my name [on the list], and I yelled really loud," said the Sacramento, Calif., native. "Then, I called my wife and kids to let them know. They were as happy as I am."

Contacting loved ones to share the great news was a priority for all of the selects, but getting the news while on temporary duty, miles away from home didn't affect the pride, excitement and joy they felt.

"It doesn't matter where I made it," said Staff Sgt. Joseph Ramsey, a crew chief with the 391st Aircraft Maintenance Unit at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. "I just made it," he added with a big smile.

More than 1,000 active duty, National Guard and Reserve Airmen, Sailors, Soldiers and Marines are here supporting Northern Edge 2011, a U.S. Pacific Command exercise that began June 13 and is meant to prepare joint forces to respond to crises in the Asia-Pacific region.

"This exercise has been a great experience," said Staff Sgt. Robert Johnson, a weather forecaster assigned to the 366th Operations Support Squadron, also at Mountain Home AFB. "Making tech [sic] here is a perfect way to finish up the [temporary duty]."