Photo By Senior Master Sgt. Jeremy Farson | First Sgt. Stentsen Ellenburg, 117th Air Refueling Wing, poses in front of a fire...... read more read more
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Senior Master Sgt. Stentsen Ellenburg always placed a strong emphasis on teamwork and had a desire to help others. Those two attributes were strong influences in his career choice and his decision to join the 117th Air Refueling Wing.
After his enlistment as an infantry Marine at Camp Pendleton, California from 2002-2006, the lifelong Birmingham resident returned home and enlisted as a fireman in the 117th Civil Engineering Squadron. He started his career as a fireman at the Birmingham Fire Department in 2001.
“After 9/11 I left to join the Marine Corps,” said Ellenburg. “Working for the Birmingham Fire Department was great but I wanted to do something on a bigger scale and I wanted to help people.” He deployed to Iraq for a nine-month tour in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2004.
When he returned to the Birmingham Fire Department in 2006 some friends and co-workers at his station talked to him about joining the 117th Air Refueling Wing. He became a part of the wing later that same year.
“The unit was local and I heard good things about it being family oriented,” said Ellenburg. “Placing a high value on family was a big draw for me.”
He started his journey to being a first sergeant by enjoying the experience as an “undershirt” in the 117th Civil Engineering Squadron. In 2017 he attended the first sergeant board for the 117th Security Forces Squadron vacancy but was not selected. Approximately one month later he interviewed and was selected as the 117th Mission Support Group first sergeant and he served in that capacity from 2017-2020.
“I had never went through a formal board before the security forces board so it was a great learning experience,” he said. “I think it’s important to give true answers as opposed to memorizing talking points and if anyone is interested in being a first sergeant or any type of special duty assignment they should seek out those who have gone through the process and ask about it.”
In May 2022 he was introduced as the 117th Air Refueling Wing first sergeant and currently serves in that role. Ellenburg believes a first sergeant can be sought out before an airman approaches a chief or commander. A first sergeant may be able to offer a different perspective or act on a situation if necessary.
“Sometimes an airman venting or saying something out loud may allow a first sergeant to step in and open their eyes as to why a process is done in that way,” he said. “There are also times when we have to take their suggestions straight to the top and have difficult conversations with leadership and take the heat off airmen and place it on first sergeants. We should be experienced and responsible enough to take that heat at times.”
One the most fulfilling aspects of service and being a first sergeant for Ellenburg is the ability to help others.
“When someone says ‘thank you,’ it is bigger than a paycheck,” he said. “When I can really help someone see the bright side or have someone come to me upset and leave my office happy and I check up a month later and the person is still happy I know I have done something.”
Ellenburg is a drill status guardsman and is now a training specialist at the Alabama Fire College after retiring from the Birmingham Fire Department in April 2021. His belief in helping others being a key component of being a first sergeant also was a significant factor in his choice in his military and civilian career as a firefighter.
| Date Taken: | 07.29.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 08.09.2022 10:38 |
| Story ID: | 426139 |
| Location: | BIRMINGHAM, AL, US |
| Web Views: | 79 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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