413th FTG SNCO helps mold future EO leaders

  • Published
  • By Jamal Sutter
  • 413th Flight Test Group Public Affairs
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Senior Master Sgt. Richard Neal, 413th Flight Test Group (FTG) aviation resource management superintendent, received recognition for helping shape and mentor Reserve Citizen Airmen Aug. 10, 2018, at Robins Air Force Base, Ga.

Grady Floyd, Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) equal opportunity (EO) director and chief diversity and inclusion officer, stopped by Neal’s office to personally thank him and to show appreciation for his contribution to an equal opportunity development team board that took place July 29 - Aug. 2 in Denver.

“You brought some knowledge, some wisdom and some things we just never thought of to that process,” Floyd said. “And I’m sure that had you not been there, our folks would not have benefited as much as they did.”

During the event, Neal helped review military records of NCOs in the EO career field. He also helped determine who was qualified to be on AFRC’s Enlisted Key Personnel List, a list that identifies potential future leaders and opens doors to career progression opportunities. Members going through the board ultimately found out where they stood among their peers and received information on what they can do to put themselves in better career positions.

"It's great to be recognized when you're just doing the best job you can as a mentor and a senior NCO,” Neal said. “The 3F4 functional manager really went out of his way to show me that they valued my input, and I appreciate that."

Neal also said he learned a lot from the experience, and he plans to pass that knowledge to as many enlisted Airmen of the 413th FTG as he can.