SSgt STEP promotion surprise! (Balderas/SFS)

Congratulations to Senior Airman Christopher Balderas, 375th Security Forces Squadron, who was STEP promoted to Staff Sergeant Jan. 8 during the 375th AMW's 4th Quarter Award ceremony. He's an amazing Airman who outperforms in every way and encompasses excellence in everything he does! He's already been leading the way, so it's great to be able to give him the rank that is well-earned!

[@GerbenWijnja]

I could watch surprise step promotion videos all day long.

[@foxmulder6674]

Me too love the military

[@jadude119]

me too bro

[@john1653]

I am a retired Navy Master Chief E9, and in my twenty-three years I never saw anything like this. It is a class act, and I can tell this is a happy command. Congratulations to the new sergeant, and to the officers and NCOs who know how to generate command loyalty and morale.

[@Rob-Benny-Hill]

Nicely said Chief, and I concur, happy respectful command right there. Thank you for your service.

[@john1653]

Thank you, sir!

[@charlesbartholomew2910]

As you know, Master Chief, those are the kinds of commands that build careers and strong esprit de corp. Chief Petty Officer, Silent Service, United States Navy, Retired.

[@billjenkins687]

Thanks, Chief.

[@wowojeejee]

Excellent lead-on by the senior staff. Congratulations!

[@briand4000]

My son (at the ripe old age of 21) puts on E5 next month while deployed to the middle east as an Air Guardsman. I couldn't be prouder! Keep'm flying, Airmen and Women of the world's greatest Air Force!

[@robertcruz6974]

My son ripe old age 41 puts on CMsgt. come March 1st 2024. Congrats to your son. He worked hard for them. God bless him.

[@hebermoloney]

My father in law was a General! Cograts to all whom gets promoted at all levels

[@mr.crighton9491]

from the raucous joyous applause from his peers and others, seems this is a good guy, well deserving of this step.

[@trob0914]

It wasn’t a STEP promotion but I remember making the list and then putting my SSgt stripes on in 1982, stationed at Eielson AFB, Alaska! Good times!!👍🏽🇺🇸

[@cardinalbob1]

Got to love those sneak attacks! 😂🤣 Congratulations Sergeant.

[@robertwilkins8357]

Must great to get the promotion like that. When i was in nothering like this happened in 1963.

[@ckg1665]

The military has some real impressive people.

[@kainuisocean]

The most CLASSY room full of people, you'll ever find!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@dariosandoval5140]

There is a tall blonde girl in the stands that really cares about him. She is the very first to stand up and start the ovation at least two times.

[@dianaelkins6444]

When I was in the Air Force there was nothing like "STEP" promotions.

[@jasonmyneni8605]

Yes there were, they just didn’t have a name. High ranking officers could always promote people who are doing a very good job, and general Patton was famous for doing it all the time.

[@WilliamMurphy-uv9pm]

@@jasonmyneni8605 General Patton was never in the Air Force. And such promotions came during wartime when a lot of unexpected "vacancies" occurred and freed up positions suddenly.

[@mrmichael972]

That was a good surprise.

[@jimclark6256]

Times have really changed, When I was promoted , I had to look at the promotion board to see if my name was there. !961-1967. USAF

[@judithhonold9577]

Congratulations. How wonderful!

[@The6gerry9]

My daughter Kim Goehl was given step promotion to Staff Sergeant while working at OSI!

[@connieweber3066]

Thank God for your dedication Congrats Sarge

[@keanujohnny]

Why is this not happening in the Army a lot? lol "Soldier, get your points high up there."

[@LJDRVR]

Awesome! Congrats, Sarge.

[@annbrown1027]

LJDRVR

[@michaelrs8010]

That was pretty cool. Did my time in the Air Force in the late seventies as a law enforcement specialist ( yes, I know it's all combined Security Forces now) and the STEP program was instituted the very year I got out. ( not that I would have qualified 😄) Anyway, while I like watching these videos generally, it's particularly nice for me to see a security forces person get it. As a side note, I think the Air Force still has to do something with their rank structure around E4 and 5. How hard would it be to juggle things around to be in line with the other two branches where three stripes is a sergeant and a three stripes and a rocker is a staff sergeant?

[@gusm2752]

Agree. I was SP 76 - 80 when we still had the E-4 SGT and Senior Airman also E-4 but not NCO. Since then did away with the E-4 SGT NCO and have to get to E-5 Staff SGT for NCO. AIR FORCE does some odd things But still the most CIVILIZED of the Branches. 👍🇺🇸

[@Mike-mz8dl]

It goes further than that. In Vietnam as an Aiman First Class E-3 when I was on an Army Base I had to eat with the NCOs because to them I was a corporal. Having two strips.

[@michaelrs8010]

@@Mike-mz8dl 😄 That's pretty funny. Hope they had better chow

[@Mike-mz8dl]

They used a metal tray but you served yourself and could take all you wanted as long as you ate everything and wiped the tray clean with bread. Wasn't great but it was edible. Had to wash your own tray and silverware.

[@ajstrippgen5637]

Congratulations staff Sergeant

[@ajstrippgen5637]

The unit was the 3/75 security police 1978/1982. The commander was major Laguna.

[@robertcruz6974]

I love watching this, God bless are Military, and President Trump.

[@CORRADOCAMERONI]

I am Italian and my husband is a US Marine 🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🪖🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈💞❤️♂️👍🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦✨🌞👍

[@stephaniegawith630]

Congratulations

[@americanaxetoolco2076]

Outstanding! Now everyone out for PT! Lol

[@mgreene1409]

Congratulations SSgt.!

[@elisaks59]

Deserved this.

[@Itsme-mx5tl]

Geeze, step to NCO.....All step promotions I saw were already NCOs.

[@jesusthroughmary]

Yeah, it's usually SSgt to TSgt.

[@B.A.B.G.]

Anyone think the Sgt. is awfully nice and almost like a big sister or something to the guy.

[@donnaviestenz7773]

Nice!!! Congrats

[@angelapatterson3275]

So awesome!

[@jimfowler5930]

YESSSSSSSSS!

[@bobbyjustbobby1]

I was STEP promoted twice during my AF career.

[@angelapatterson3275]

Robert Hunt I was STEP promoted to MSgt, it was an unbelievable feeling!

[@jameslyons6655]

That’s amazing. Good job.

[@3rdDegreeJJBurns]

Aww the Air Force is so cute. Little different in the Marine Corps 😐

[@papajaygo]

they clapped so long

[@JeremiahMendozaMastersgt.]

Your love

[@adonismlowery]

Good shit

[@louisecahir3334]

Aw sweet hearts

[@pilgrum23]

He looks like hph Prince of Wales

[@bigcrazyloec9152]

Not being in the military, I need help me understanding something. Why did he salute the woman both times he shook her hand, but he didn't salute the guy either time he shook his hand??

[@ejavenger]

The Woman is a commissioned officer Colonel (O-6) and the other guy is a Chief Master Sergeant (E-9). In the military we salute Warrant and Commissioned Officers Warrants W ranks and Officers O-1-O-10. We never salute enlisted unless they are awarded the Medal of Honor and are wearing the medal around their neck. Hope this helps.

[@fredwitter2919]

Correct. Only comment to add is that the AF does not have Warrant Officers. They did previously, but the rank was phased out. I believe the last active duty warrant officer retired in the early 70s or in the 60s. I started my 30 year AF career in 1979 and I believe there were none on active duty at that time.

[@huggablycute]

hooah defender. way to go

[@lindacreesy3909]

bravo zulu young man

[@A_10_PaAng_111]

Oh god 🤦🏼‍♂️! There was another 1 of these where the CO made like they forgot the coin but instead promoted the soldier. What is that an Air Force thing?

[@l214laus]

I think it is the same video but from a different camera? I seem to recall it being a higher quality filming.

[@sincityrider5894]

RAH!!!!!!!!!

[@JeremiahMendozaMastersgt.]

What i gave my marine a coin

[@mrsnaree121]

⭐⭐⭐

[@RakHineUss9]

Arakan

[@JeremiahMendozaMastersgt.]

Officially out of uniform

[@خادمنوجوانروحانی]

الجهاد الجهاد Namashti ji hind 🙏🙏🙏🇮🇳🇮🇳okokok🇮🇳❤❤❤313💘

[@hightops77]

Air Force… more females than males.

[@IsaacDeLaCruz-k4g]

Mmm no thanks

[@JeremiahMendozaMastersgt.]

Congrats 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 wish i could have been there

[@mohamedbinelias7357]

Say right from help Allah not

[@FehimŞahin-l8t]

🙄😒😒

[@ГрантСаркисян-м7у]

У Михи -хари(Михаил Бродский президент университета Линкольн Калифорния ,Сан-Франциско ,США) из жопы торчат кошачьи лапы котов, которых он пожрал у соседей на закуску с палёной сивухой

[@paulstiles7420]

OO- RA STAFF SARGENT😊

[@markchristianchristian5905]

its s funny all of the officers were I was stationd were young enough to be My kids. so Basecamp 503. this officer who I would later be ingaged to but didnt work out. we didn't want to be bringing kids up moving every 5 years but ended on good terms. said put that hand down we're all family here on this hot Hill.