JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- The 446th Security Forces Squadron welcomes back a familiar face, Master Sgt. Shaun Feero.
Previously the First Sergeant for the 446th Force Support Squadron, Feero was recently named as the First Sergeant to the SFS here at McChord Field and is a former member of that squadron. He recently took a little time for a question and answer session.
Q: What would you like the men and women of the 446th SFS to know about you and your leadership style?
A: I would like the men and women of the 446 SFS to know that I lead by example. I am the type of leader who likes to be in the trenches!
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about your career leading up to this point?
A: I started my career in 1998 as a Security Forces active duty airman. My first duty station was Minot, North Dakota. I went on my first deployment to Eskan Village, Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Southern Watch. I then received orders to Kleine Brogel Air Base, Belgium, where I spent my final 4 years of active duty. After leaving active duty, I was hired by the Juneau Police Department in Juneau, Alaska. I spend two years at JPD and was then hired by the Auburn Police Department in Auburn, Wash., at which point I also joined the 446th Security Forces Squadron. With the SFS, I completed two deployments to Iraq and Kuwait. In July of 2016 I was selected by the former 446th Airlift Wing Command Chief Master Sgt. Anthony Mack as a First Sergeant. Major Lonnie Sell hired me and I have served the last year and a half with the FSS as their First Sergeant. This month I start my new journey as the new First Sergeant of the SFS!
Q: What do you like most about being a Citizen Airman?
A: I like the comradery of being a citizen airman and the ability to assist younger airmen in opportunities that will positively affect their career.
Q: What do you think are some of the challenges that Citizen Airmen have to face in their squadrons and how do you as a First Sergeant plan to help address those at the unit level?
A: One of the biggest challenges we ALL face as Citizen Airmen is the fact that we are only here one weekend a month. My way to counteract this is through communication; effective communication, throughout the month and being available to the Airmen can alleviate such a challenge.
Q: What do you consider are your top priorities as the SFS First Sergeant?
A: My top priority is my Airmen. I vow to be available to those who need assistance in areas that effect health, morale, welfare, and good order & discipline; such areas if not dealt with properly can negatively affect the overall mission of the 446th SFS.
In addition to Feero, two other Citizen Airmen were recently named as First Sergeants in the 446th AW.
Master Sergeant Richard Fakkema from the 446th Civil Engineer Squadron will be heading to the 446th Operations Support Squadron, and Tech. Sgt. Kenneth Healy from the 446th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron will be going to the 97th Airlift Squadron.
“We have a new cadre of first sergeants coming in, that are new to the diamond,” said 446th Airlift Wing Command Chief Master Sgt. Kenellias Smith. “They have multiple skill sets from their military jobs and civilian jobs, and that combination of experience and leadership will allow us to plug them in that will give these squadrons what they really need.”