Fall banquet inducts TEC's senior noncommissioned officers

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Mike R. Smith
  • I.G. Brown Training and Education Center
ALCOA, Tenn. --  Peers, family and leadership here applauded 20 of the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center's senior noncommissioned officers Nov. 14 with a formal fall banquet that included a SNCO induction ceremony.

Officials said that the TEC's Top III council organized the sold out banquet after nearly two years of planning and council fundraising.

"No one can remember anyone ever doing this before, said Senior Master Sgt. Paul Mann, council president.

"One of the reasons was to remind those Senior NCOs here what it means to be a SNCO and the higher expectations the come with being an enlisted leader.

"The staff was excited about it."

They inducted four senior master sergeants and 16 master sergeants. Each received a certificate and a special gold medallion. Many SNCOs attended the event with their spouses.

Retired Chief Master Sgt. Ed Brown, the 6th senior enlisted adviser to the Director of the Air National Guard was the featured speaker. Other VIPs included Army Command Sgt. Maj. Terry J. Scott, senior enlisted leader for the Tennessee National Guard, and Chief Master Sgt. Richard Parker, command chief for the 134th Air Refueling Wing.  TEC Commander Col. Jessica Meyeraan also attended.

Officials said that a future event could include a joint venture between the 134th and the TEC.

TEC Deputy Commander Maj. David Meece said: "It was the culmination of hard work and due recognition for all of the inductees.

"Now that it is over, I can't imagine not doing an event like this again."

Master Sgt. Jason Miller, an instructor for the Paul H. Lankford Enlisted PME Center and the council's vice president, MC'd the event. The area's junior Air Force ROTC cadets from Heritage High School volunteered to help with ceremony, which included the presentation of the colors.

Mann said that ticket sales helped fund the banquet room at the McGhee Tyson Airport Hilton Hotel. The council also organized off-duty fun runs this year that helped pay for the medallions and other items.

"We hope to make this an annual event," said Mann.