HomeNewsArticle Display


Meeting has unexpected outcome for recruiting NCO

  • Published
  • By Annette Crawford
  • Air Force Recruiting Service Public Affairs
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH --  When Joanne Moseley was handed the phone to speak with the Air Force Recruiting Service commander Dec. 23, she was a staff sergeant who was a bit nervous. After speaking with Brig. Gen. James C. Johnson via Facetime for just a few seconds, she became a technical sergeant who was overwhelmed.

Moseley, of the 343rd Recruiting Squadron A-Flight, was promoted through the Stripes for Exceptional Performers program during a meeting at the squadron headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. The meeting had been called on the premise that Johnson wanted to hear ideas about Battlefield Airman recruiting. Moseley, the enlisted accessions recruiter in Omaha, was asked to be a part of that group.

Lt. Col. Steven Phillips, 343rd RCS commander, and Moseley's flight chief, Master Sgt. Barton Downey, were at the meeting. Moseley's husband, Master Sgt. Rex Moseley, snuck into the room as Phillips handed the phone to the anxious recruiter.

"When Lieutenant Colonel Phillips handed me the phone to speak with General Johnson face to face I got a little nervous," Moseley admitted.  "Why would the AFRS commander want to have face time with me, a staff sergeant who was on her way out of the Air Force come April 2015?"

The general asked Moseley her name, and she answered, "Staff Sergeant Moseley." He then said, "But I'm looking for Tech. Sergeant Moseley."

Moseley stared at the phone a few seconds before she realized what he meant.

"Once I finally figured out what was going on I started to cry because I felt so thankful for the opportunity the general had just given to me.  Because of his choice I am able to continue my service in the United States Air Force and have the ability to continue to help bring in the most qualified Airmen to our force to protect and defend."

Moseley, a native of Papillion, Nebraska, joined the Air Force in April 2000. She initially served in the aircrew life support career field, which is now called aircrew flight equipment due to its merger with another field. She spent nearly the first 13 years in the Air Force were at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, working on and deploying with the AWACS E3 aircraft.

She decided to become a recruiter in 2012 so that others could have the same opportunities she had.

"I wanted to become a recruiter to work with the civilians who have interest in the Air Force and help them to make an informed decision about their future, career and way of life for them personally and their families. It is an awesome feeling to hear back from my former DEP members and hear about their experiences and their gratitude toward me in regards to working with them and helping them get to the point they are at now," she said.

"Sergeant Moseley was STEP promoted because of her clear sustained performance that demonstrated her potential to serve at the next level," Johnson said. "She proved her dedication, professionalism and leadership constantly over time...in her primary career field and recruiting ... at home station, in the community, and while deployed." 

Moseley's flight chief was not surprised she was the lone person in AFRS to be promoted via STEP.

"Her dedication to the Air Force is second to none," Downey said. "She is the epitome of 'Service Before Self.' Even as a staff sergeant, she was my second in command despite having three other tech. sergeants in the flight."

Downey added that Moseley is the first person to volunteer for additional duties and takes great pride in them.

"Tech. Sgt. Moseley loves to give back to her community via Habitat for Humanity and coaching youth sports," Downey said.

Moseley, who arrived at the 343rd RCS in February 2013, said the promotion has not sunk in 100 percent yet.

"I still catch myself answering the telephone as staff sergeant and not technical sergeant. This whole experience has been a great blessing and very humbling. I am very appreciative to my leadership in the 343rd Recruiting Squadron for submitting me for this stripe and for my mentors I have/had for always believing in me and my abilities to do the right things and get the job done," she said.

As she plans her future as a technical sergeant, she knows that means more Professional Military Education and additional responsibilities. As far as Moseley's concerned, when it comes to those opportunities and challenges, "I look forward to each and every one of them."

Disclaimer

The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the United States Air Force or the Department of War, products or services contained therein. External links to non-federal websites are not endorsed by the federal government and are not subject to federal information, privacy or security standards. Some links may not be accessible on government‑issued devices.