97th AMW celebrates newly inducted NCOs

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jonah Bliss
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Public

The 97th Air Mobility Wing celebrated a significant milestone by hosting its first ever noncommissioned officer induction ceremony at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, Jan. 16, 2025.

The event marked the transition of selected Senior Airmen into the rank of Staff Sgt. - the first echelon of the NCO tier - acknowledging their dedication to the Air Force and their leadership.

Staff Sgt. Jeremy Scott, a new NCO inducted at the event, expressed what this accomplishment meant to him.

“This means the entire world to me,” he said. “This was my last chance to become an NCO. This accomplishment separates me from who I was and pushes me to become someone better.”

Tech. Sgt. Samantha Hunt, 54th Air Refueling Squadron standards and evaluations flight chief and NCO induction ceremony event organizer stated the significance of the event.

"This is a major accomplishment for the new NCOs, and we want to celebrate it accordingly," Hunt said. "This is the first event of its kind on Altus Air Force Base, and we want to highlight and celebrate these amazing Airmen."

The newly inducted NCOs who attended the event were:

Staff Sgt. Brooke Belmonte-Griffin

Senior Airman Jack Brown

Senior Airman Derrick Blake

Senior Airman Jesse Hancock

Staff Sgt. Devin King

Senior Airman Tyler Mantoni

Staff Sgt. Avion Mickens

Senior Airman Tessah Moak

Senior Airman Michele Perrone

Senior Airman Michael Backenstoes

Senior Airman Nina Quintana

Senior Airman Michael Swezey

Senior Airman Ashton Jolly

Senior Airman Jeremy Scott

The ceremony not only honored the achievements of these Airmen but also reinforced the importance of leadership and service within the military community.

To see more photos from the event, visit: 

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