SNCO guides Airmen through a changing Air Force

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Cary Smith
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  After 17 years of service with numerous deployments and too many temporary duty assignments to count, one ammo troop uses his military experiences to mentor Airmen and prepare them for success.

Having the right mentor can help Airmen navigate the complexities of a changing Air Force. Master Sgt. Kevin Cantrell, 31st Munitions Squadron munitions systems equipment maintenance NCO in charge, highlights three key points he thinks has helped him succeed in his career.

"The Air Force is going through a lot of changes and Airmen need to perform in a way where their actions shine," said Cantrell. "Airmen need to be professional, assertive and learn their job if they want to stand out to their peers and leadership."

Professionalism

Cantrell said there is a time and place to play and there is a time and place to work.

"The one thing I’ve tried to work on is to be as professional as I can and instill professionalism in those around me," said Cantrell. "We can have a good time and show our personalities, but we are in the military, we have a job to do and must be professionals first."

According to Airman 1st Class Ronald Christen, 31st MUNS munitions systems equipment maintenance crew member, Cantrell is a role model and a mentor for both work and life struggles.

“Master Sgt. Cantrell treats all of his troops with the utmost respect and trust, which in turn makes us want to work harder for him,” said Christen. “He doesn’t talk to us as a boss, but as someone who will do everything in his power to help us perform our jobs efficiently and strive for more.”

Assertiveness

Cantrell believes professionalism is what people notice first, it helps get the foot in the door, but being assertive is what keeps the door open.

“Airmen need to figure out what it is they want in their career, come up with goals and then focus and build everything around reaching those goals,” said Cantrell. “Don’t wait on others to make your career—you need to take it into your own hands.”

To Cantrell, assertiveness is shown through opportunity and clarity. He said most Airmen and young NCOs are very good at their job, but if they are not in the correct environment to grow and are not shown how vital their job is, complacency can set in which affects the mission.

“As a Senior NCO, I do my best to lead by example, communicate things clearly and push my troops to challenge themselves through their successes and failures,” said Cantrell. “The best thing I can do is listen to their needs, guide them in the right direction and pass on helpful information.”

Knowledge is power

“The more Airmen know their job, the further they will go,” Cantrell stated. “Learning the jobs of their peers and supervisors will make people want to rely on them more.”

Cantrell remembered a time during his deployment when accurate information and confidence enabled him to step into a leadership role.

“I was deployed to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, as a brand new staff sergeant and I expected to follow orders from the NCO who outranked me, but I was wrong,” Cantrell recounted. “I was put in charge of four crews and had to manage all of the loading and transporting of munitions to the flightline. My troops relied on my knowledge and experience and that I would make the right decisions.”

Mentoring

Lessons from those experiences are the learning tools Cantrell uses to help his Airmen and those around him. He uses his knowledge of information to be a mentor to those in need.

"I always hear the words, 'you're training your replacement,'" said Cantrell. "And it's true, my focus as an Airmen was narrow and on myself, but now my focus is all about my Airmen to make sure they succeed.”

Focusing on his Airmen allows him to have a positive impact in their lives inside and outside the workplace.

“Master Sgt. Cantrell spends his time talking with us on how to do our job better, but also about non work-related issues,” said Christen. “He may be one of the easiest people to talk to about anything, and he always has the best input for nearly any situation.”

As the Air Force continues to improve, mentors are needed to assist Airmen in making the right decisions. Fortunately, there are seasoned enlistees across the AF ready to groom Airmen for the future.

If you are interested in learning more about mentorship, visit the Air Force MyVector website.