Photo By Airman 1st Class Emma Wright | Then U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Kristopher Mack (left), poses for a photo with his...... read more read more
Commentary: U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Kristopher Mack, 58th Airlift Squadron Senior Enlisted Leader
When I hear “Raising the Roof,” I think of a celebration or maybe that dance where everyone’s hands go up. But in the military, especially among the enlisted ranks, when you make Master Sergeant—or E-7, you get a stripe that we call a “roof.” Many of us think that once we earn that stripe, we’ve finally made it. But honestly, that’s just the beginning. The real work of leading others truly kicks in at the Senior Non-Commissioned Officer level.
I remember the day I found out I was selected for Master Sergeant. A mentor took me out for dinner to celebrate. Of course I was excited, I’d reached a career milestone! But, as I ate my chicken parmesan, it hit me, this wasn’t just about me anymore. It was about helping others succeed by maximizing their potential, and making sure everyone around me had a chance to reach their goals too. My mentor shared many leadership lessons that night, but the one thing that really stuck out was: “Think of the Air Force like a house.”
This mentor always gave me very concise and to the point advice, but this example required a bit more self-reflection and the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. A house isn’t just bricks and beams. It’s a team, where every piece matters—or the house will fall apart.
I’ve watched commanders act like architects, drawing blueprints in line with strategic vision. Senior Enlisted Leaders often become the general contractors, translating those plans into action, gathering resources, and organizing the team.
I view Airmen and Non-Commissioned Officers as the heart of any home, as the framing and foundation. Company Grade Officers are still learning to balance weight and carry responsibility like rafters, but under the mentorship of enlisted leaders, soon they’ll be designing their own houses that are built strong enough to last.
Then there’s the “roof” and that’s us, the Senior Non-Commissioned Officers. The roof isn’t the most noticeable part of a home. Nobody walks into a house and says, “Nice shingles.” But when a storm hits, that roof tells the story. We carry responsibility for everyone underneath; we make tough calls to keep the house standing through anything and protect our team. Holding the roof steady at times can be thankless but isn’t about recognition. It’s about making sure the house and the people in it remain safe, ready, and strong to execute the mission.
A weak roof can bring the whole house down. It lets rain in, shakes the structure, and makes it hard for everything else to hold together. That’s why it’s up to us, as Senior Non-Commissioned Officers, to reinforce our structures, develop the people under us, and leave a home that can support whatever challenges lie ahead. Remember our leadership isn’t about titles or praises, but about the influence and impact that we will leave in homes long after we have moved on.
Those of us who have been privileged to reach this pinnacle didn’t get here by just checking boxes. It was due to having someone who trusted us, who nudged us when needed, and maybe even let us stumble so we could learn. That’s how we build stronger homes, through mentorship and shaping future leaders.
And now as a mentor and leader, I’m here to encourage our Airmen, NCOs, and CGOs. I challenge you to build your house and train our replacements by developing our force.
If you’re looking to earn that next rank, seek out mentors, make relationships, invest in your growth and get involved with professional organizations. Reaching the next rank isn’t just about tests or boards, it’s about becoming the leader your team and your house needs when it counts.
The strength of the house depends on each piece coming together. What role will you play in making yours stronger? The future of the house is based on the steps we take today, look around and see who you can help build up.
I thank my mentors as they have been beams that help hold my roof up, showing me that true leadership isn’t about standing above, but giving others the strength to rise under you.
| Date Taken: | 03.18.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 03.23.2026 09:42 |
| Story ID: | 560816 |
| Location: | ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, OKLAHOMA, US |
| Web Views: | 31 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Raising the Roof: Leadership to hold the house together, by A1C Emma Wright, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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