Maintenance window scheduled to begin at February 14th 2200 est. until 0400 est. February 15th

(e.g. yourname@email.com)

Forgot Password?

    Defense Visual Information Distribution Service Logo

    I am The 908th: Master Sgt. James Emanuel

    I am The 908th: Master Sgt. James Emanuel

    Photo By Senior Airman Juliana Todd | Master Sgt. James Emanuel didn’t always envision himself in uniform. Like many young...... read more read more

    MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA, UNITED STATES

    08.13.2025

    Story by Senior Airman Juliana Todd 

    908th Flying Training Wing

    Master Sgt. James Emanuel didn’t always envision himself in uniform. Like many young adults, he first had plans to pursue college, but admitted he wasn’t fully prepared for independence. “I was overly ambitious, but I didn’t take college seriously,” he said.

    Encouraged by older mentors who had served in the military, he enlisted in the active-duty Air Force in 2009. It was a decision driven not just by the need for discipline and direction but by a desire to become something more.

    “I didn’t know how long I’d serve,” Emanuel said. “But I knew I needed a change and needed to provide for myself. I wanted something challenging, and college didn’t feel particularly challenging. So, I thought military service would provide that.”

    After his active-duty enlistment, he joined the Air Force Reserve in 2014 as a C-130 loadmaster with the 908th. The transition to the Reserve was driven by a desire to stay close to his wife and children in Montgomery, Alabama.

    Today, he plays a key role in the 703rd Helicopter Squadron, as a special missions aviator instructor on the MH-139A Grey Wolf and noncommissioned officer in charge of the weapons and tactics mission planning office. His responsibilities extend beyond teaching; he prepares crew members with the tactics, planning tools, strategies and equipment they need to perform their missions effectively.

    “We’re working closely with subject matter experts across the Air Force, from Air Force Global Strike Command to Air Force Reserve Command, to build a robust weapons and tactics program for the MH-139 community,” Emanuel said. “It’s a privilege to help establish what this community will look like, especially knowing that the students we train here may carry that culture with them into the rest of their careers.”

    Emanuel is an instructor, mentor, and teammate. His approach to leadership and mentorship is rooted in empathy, shaped by his own transition from active duty to Reserve. “That moment of transition helped me grow personally. It made me more sympathetic and more aware of the unique anxieties, motivations, and challenges that service members face.”

    Emanuel and his team are working diligently to build internal proficiency. As an instructor, he understands the powerful responsibility of shaping the new Airmen’s first impressions and exposure to the aircraft.

    “When I became a C-130 loadmaster, I was shaped by great instructors. Now I get to pay that forward.”

    And while he originally planned to serve 20 years, that goal is shifting. “As I see the direction this mission is heading, I’m motivated to stay longer. I want to see it through and be part of its continued growth.”

    From lessons learned from years of challenge, mentorship, and self-reflection, Emanuel shared loads of advice. He encourages Airmen to “savor the now,” to “take ownership of your mistakes and grow from them,” to remember that “there will be challenges but don't be discouraged, you have a team here to support you, everything takes effort and time so stay grounded and enjoy the journey."

    As the 2024 Senior NCO of the Year for the 908th Flying Training Wing, Emanuel embodies the power of mentorship, growth, and community.

    “I have had the privilege of working with a group of folks who are teaching me so much,” he said. “And I’m doing my best to return that by helping shape the mission, the people, and the future we’re building together.”

    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 08.13.2025
    Date Posted: 08.13.2025 16:09
    Story ID: 545548
    Location: MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA, US

    Web Views: 31
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN