321 AMOS Airman STEPs Up to the Challenge

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Bradlee Seehawer
  • 321st Air Mobility Operations Squadron
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  

Members of the 321st Air Mobility Operations Squadron gathered in their heritage room on November 5 to receive what they thought was an admonishment from Col. Jason Herring, 621st Contingency Response Wing Commander. The topic of discussion was the timeliness of submitting reports. The wing commander called up Staff Sgt. Matthew Ward, 321 AMOS Command Post Controller and Mission Manager, to account for his late reports. But what started as a reprimand turned into a surprise promotion ceremony when Staff Sgt. Ward was announced as the 621 CRW’s selection for the Stripes for Exceptional Performers program.

The STEP promotion program enables commanders to immediately promote enlisted airmen who exhibit exceptional potential beyond their rank. Within a matter of seconds - the time it took for Col. Daniel Hilferty, 621 CRW Deputy Commander, to remove and replace the Velcro rank on his uniform, SSgt Ward became Tech. Sgt. Ward.

“This was overdue,” Chief Master Sgt. Jarrod Getz, 621 CRW Command Chief said. “It shows the hard work, the support you have from your family, and the support from your teammates in the AMOS.”

Ward’s package revealed his exceptionalism. As a member of the exercise control group during KEEN EDGE 24 he built more than 60 scenarios in support of the United States and the Japan Self Defense Forces that explored critical air mobility issues within a multi-domain environment across the spectrum of conflict. During ULCHI FREEDOM SHIELD 23 he managed the airlift for combined joint forcible entry operations in the Republic of Korea.

At home, Ward led the west coast DEVIL Development program, the 621 CRW’s strategic perspective on how the four mission sets of the wing work together to advance Rapid Global Mobility. More recently, Ward was the Non-commissioned officer in charge of the Travis Air Force Base First Term Enlisted Course. A unique opportunity for a member of a tenant squadron, Ward spearheaded a Headquarters Air Force program that piloted 900 hours of instruction for 700 Airmen across the three wings and myriad tenant units of Team Travis.

“One of the things I told my Airmen [at FTEC] was to spread kindness and inspire others,” Ward said. “I can’t change the world alone, but I can cast a stone into the water that can create many ripples. It starts by being here for someone, and I thank you all for being here for me.”

As accomplished as he is in his primary job, Ward is also an exceptionally active volunteer. He was Solano County Food Bank’s top volunteer, accumulating 95 hours of service and distributing over 200,000 pounds of food to 30,000 local families. He also led the county’s back to school drive, securing $15,000 in clothing and supplies for 100 children in the Travis School District. Moreover, he has dedicated countless hours to coaching adult literacy towards immigrants applying for citizenship, escorting elderly citizens to appointments, and cleaning up public parks. For his selfless service he has been recognized as the Travis AFB 5/6 NCO of the Year, the 621 CRW’s selection for the American Legion Spirit of Service Award, and the recipient of a Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.

“The leader I am today is a result of mentors who invested in me, believed in me, listened to me, and shared their wisdom,” Ward said. “It is crucial to nurture and educate the future generation of leaders, as they will eventually take our place. Our goal should be for them to surpass us. Great leaders are distinguished not by their power, but by their capacity to empower others. It is the little things that truly matter.”