Laughlin NCO receives rare honor

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Blake Mize
  • 47th Flying Training Wing public affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  A Laughlin Non-Commissioned Officer was bestowed an honor recently that only two people throughout the entire Air Education and Training Command will receive this year.

Master Sgt. Stephen Keltgen, 47th Maintenance Directorate, was promoted to master sergeant March 17 by Gen. Stephen Lorenz, AETC commander, through the Air Force's Stripes for Exceptional Performers program.

"I am truly grateful and honored to have been selected for this promotion," said Sergeant Keltgen. "To be recognized for my accomplishments is a great feeling."

According to Laughlin's Career Development Center, NCOs ordinarily go through a lengthy promotion process, which includes tests and waiting periods. However, the Air Force releases a very limited number of slots for STEP promotions each year to be distributed Air Force-wide. Each major command is granted a few of the coveted slots and subsequently allocates the promotions to wing installations. Wing commanders then choose the deserving individuals to be promoted to staff sergeant, technical sergeant or master sergeant.

"It is uncommon, especially at a small base such as Laughlin, to see someone promoted through the STEP program," said Chief Master Sgt. Mike Hanning, 47th FTW command chief. "It is a significant achievement."

In this case, Sergeant Keltgen was promoted to master sergeant. He and one other individual were the only ones from AETC to be chosen to jump directly from technical sergeant to master sergeant without further testing or waiting periods. The process to do so, though expedited, was not an easy one. General Lorenz, reviewed submissions from every AETC installation.

"The general had two discretionary master sergeant stripes to award within AETC. Every base was allowed to nominate their most deserving Airmen to compete for those stripes. Sergeant Keltgen was one of two selected," said Chief Hanning.

Sergeant Keltgen, who is Laughlin's Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory chief, said the diversity of PMEL is his favorite aspect of his job.

"We directly support every organization on base, in one way or another. If you need to either make or take a measurement of any kind, PMEL must verify the item first," said Sergeant Keltgen. "Every day you can work on a different piece of test equipment and impact a different part of the mission."

The honor was given to the 18-year Air Force veteran during what he thought was a routine walk-through inspection by Col. Jeffrey McDaniels, 47th Flying Training Wing commander, and Chief Hanning in preparation for Laughlin's upcoming Unit Compliance Inspection. The tone of the visit quickly turned upbeat when Col. McDaniels surprised Sergeant Keltgen with the good news.

"I was totally surprised," said Sergeant Keltgen. "I am still in shock. To be one of only two selected in all of AETC is amazing to me."

Although the promotion came as a surprise to Sergeant Keltgen, who has been nominated for and won multiple awards throughout his career, including NCO of the Quarter for his squadron, Laughlin's leadership was not surprised.

"The wing commander nominated Sergeant Keltgen because of his sustained superior performance and his ability to perform at the next highest rank," said Chief Hanning. "He was already performing the duties of a master sergeant and he has shown continued superior performance."

The newly minted master sergeant said he feels his wife, Gina, summed up the promotion best.

"All your years of hard work and dedication have finally paid off, and you truly deserve it," she told him.