News

Former technical sergeant a distinguished graduate from officer training

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jake Chappelle
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Lincoln, Churchill, Luther King, Gandhi. Leaders, such as these, might credit their successes to proper goal setting and milestones. An officer with the 446th Maintenance Squadron here did just that in earning the Distinguished Graduate honor at Air University's Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., April 22 to July 22.

Second Lt. Jared Adam, a 446th Maintenance Squadron officer and prior technical sergeant with the 446th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron here, was one of eight Distinguished Grads at OTS, in which the students had to set three core targets to achieve while attending school.

"As I administered the oath of office to Lieutenant Adam, I felt like I was preparing to hand over the reins of leadership to a new generation," said Lt. Col. Jay McSweeney, 446th Maintenance Group deputy commander here. "As I reflected, it's really true, Lieutenant Adam and his colleagues will someday be the ones in charge, and we'll definitely have no worries!"

"I didn't see Distinguished Grad coming at all," said Lieutenant Adam. "We had to set three goals when I was there. Mine were to score at least 95 percent on all academic tests, score at least a 95 on my fitness test, and be one of the Distinguished Graduates. I made all of those goals."

Lieutenant Adam admits he was skeptical when it came to his odds of earning the award.

"Even though it was my goal, I didn't feel, at any point during school I would get Distinguished Grad," said Lieutenant Adam. "I had pushed myself in fitness training and my academic work, but a couple of my scores made me unsure if I was going to make it."

Lieutenant Adam confesses his astonishment when he found out he won.

"The staff surprised us at the dining out when they called the eight of us forward," said Lieutenant Adam. "Then, to our shock, they announced us as Distinguished Grads."

Even though Lieutenant Adam earned the award, he had to put forth the effort.

"You have to set milestones for yourself," said Lieutenant Adam. "There were a lot of paper assignments and tests. I sacrificed sleep to get things done. One of the best things about OTS is that I got honest and straightforward feedback. I was told of my expectations and what I needed to work on to succeed."

Leadership isn't shocked at Lieutenant Adam's accolade, according to Colonel McSweeney.

"Frankly, his accomplishment didn't surprise me as much as I would have expected," said Colonel McSweeney. "He was sharp and talented NCO and he really proved that at OTS. He's already a great leader and he'll make a great officer."

Lieutenant Adam's former supervisor, Tech. Sgt. Aaron Ivanuska, 446thAircraft Maintenance Squadron, C-17 Globemaster III electrician, agrees.

"I was Adam's supervisor for about 10 years," said Sergeant Ivanuska. "I'm not surprised at all that he won the award. He'll be a very good officer. It takes talent and he has it. His best trait, I feel will be his leadership."

Lieutenant Adam stresses that on the job training will help him find his leadership style.

"It's about getting experience in the real world to find out what kind of leader you're going to be," said Lieutenant Adam. "I'm still waiting for what the experience is going to like. OTS was one of the harder things I've done and it gave me some leadership experience. But I don't have much experience as an officer. I still get shocked when people address me as 'Sir' and 'L.T.'"

Being prior enlisted, Lieutenant Adam decided to earn his commission so he could help see after the enlisted troops.

"Part of the reason why I applied for OTS is because I wanted to make sure the Airmen were being taken care of," said Lieutenant Adam. "I wanted to try and make that a priority."

Sergeant Ivanuska agrees.

"Lieutenant Adam knows his people very well and knows how to handle them properly," said Sergeant Adam. "His people will follow him, not because they have to, but because they want to. Not a lot of people can say that."

Having enlisted experience gave Lieutenant Adam an advantage in OTS and as an officer.

Being prior enlisted can be an important tool for your toolbox that people walking in off the street don't have, said Lieutenant Adam. It is experience. It can be applied to a person's style of leadership.

Overall, Lieutenant Adam got another bonus after graduating from OTS and receiving Distinguished Graduate.

"At the dining out, I asked the other Distinguished Grads of I could steal the show and they let me," said Lieutenant Adam. "My girlfriend pinned on my rank. Then I got down on one knee and proposed to her. She said 'yes'."