Smith wins Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Mary Hinson
  • 307th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
Barksdale AFB, La. --  When Senior Master Sgt. John Smith decided to join the Air Force Reserve, it should have been no surprise - it was in his blood.

"My father was in RED HORSE (at Barksdale)," said Sergeant Smith, Fabrication flight chief with the 307th Maintenance Squadron at Barksdale Air Force Base, La. "I've been on this base since I was a kid. Growing up around the Air Force...I loved it."

"It's just something our family does," agreed his wife of 11 years, Katrina. Grandfathers, brother, great uncles - they have all served, she added.

So for Sergeant Smith the decision was not whether to join or not but it was a matter of timing. "I didn't know if I wanted to join and then finish college or finish college first and then join."

In the end, after a year of school, he decided to take a semester off to attend basic training in 1998. Not long after, when 9-11 occurred, the Winnsboro, La., native was activated at Barksdale, spending long, 12-hour shifts helping to keep the B-52 doing its mission. This experience made a lasting impression on him. "We could see the impact we were making," said Sergeant Smith.

Since then, Sergeant Smith has lived with the philosophy of getting involved not just doing his job. This idea of making the most out of his service has led to him being named the 307th Bomb Wing Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year for 2011, an honor that he doesn't take lightly.

"It's a big responsibility," he said "Hopefully I can be a good example to others."

"I was proud of him," said Senior Master Sgt. Johnnie Gilbert, the individual who nominated Sergeant Smith for the award. "It is good for the people in the flight to see him recognized."

Sergeant Smith's dedication doesn't end with his military service. He is the regional director for East Texas Emergency Medical Services, supervising 110 employees and 14 ambulances in three counties. In this career, Sergeant Smith has faced a lot of challenges but none quite like when he started out as a paramedic in Louisiana, treating victims from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. "We had no communications, no hospitals - we just treated the patients where they were," he said. "It was definitely different."

Just as Sergeant Smith's ties are strong with his father - "I call him all the time for advice and to ask what would you do?" - He hopes his dedication to the military will also make an impression on his children, Abigail (8), Noah (4) and Levi (2).

"I hope they can see we can all do our part to serve."