Know your shirt: 734th AMS first sergeant encourages members to take charge

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Miranda Moorer
  • 36 Wing/Public Affairs
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam --  The 734th Air Mobility Squadron first sergeant has high expectations for all Airmen, regardless of rank.

"One thing I would like to see is more of our members stepping up and taking charge, said Master Sgt. Joseph Barry. "There are many times throughout base I will see members walking or standing around with their hands in their pockets or sunglasses on top of their heads."

He doesn't understand how military members can walk on by with saying a word to these individuals who are blatantly disobeying Air Force Policy.

"Many may feel that it's not a big deal; but if we can't get the little things right, how do we know these folks are taking care of the bigger things like our Air Force mission or the people they supervise."

Sergeant Barry started his career as a KC-135 Stratotanker crew chief but later cross-trained into the in-flight refueling career field as a boom operator.

After becoming a master sergeant, he wanted more of a challenge. He was soon approached by his first sergeant who was, at the time, assigned to the 97th Operations Support Squadron at Altus AFB, Okla.

The first sergeant asked him to consider filling in for him as he was tasked to deploy to Iraq for six months.

"I agreed and really enjoyed the experience," Sergeant Barry said.

It's no surprise that, Master Sgt. Barry soon decided to take on the role of being a "diamond wearer" himself.

After graduating from the First Sergeant Academy August 2004, he went back to Altus AFB and served as the 97th Civil Engineer Squadron first sergeant.

After 18 months, he made his way to Andersen where he spent three months as the 36th Logistics Readiness Squadron first sergeant before finally making his way to the 734th AMS where he's been for a little more than a year.

"I like him; he's direct and to the point," said Airman 1st Class Josh Chapman, Air Freight, "He helped me and my wife out a lot. After my situation, thanks to his support, we were able to continue on with our lives with a lot less stress."

Sergeant Barry said he became a first sergeant because he wanted to give back to the Air Force and help others.

"The fact that everyday brings different challenges my way and being a part of squadrons that I normally would not have the privilege of being a part of is also a great reward," said he said.

Like many first sergeants, Sergeant Barry has also had to deal with very difficult situations such as death notifications and Air Force members being taken to prison.

"A couple years ago I had an Airman call me from an ambulance who was in a car accident to report that his six-year-old son was deceased," said Sergeant Barry. "I also had six Airmen make the bad decision to do drugs. I sat along with their families in the court room as the sentence was handed down and watched as they were escorted in handcuffs and shackles out of the court room to start their several year prison sentences in Leavenworth, Kan. Watching the anguish on their families faces and knowing that if they only made the right decision, their life would be so different was very difficult."

Sergeant Barry recalls how fortunate he was to have an immediate supervisor that took him under his wing and mentored him as a young Airman.

"I definitely hit my share of bumps in the road," he said. "But he gave me the tools I needed to be successful in the Air Force."

Sergeant Barry wants his Airmen to know that he is open and honest.

"I will tell you directly if you need to be squared away," he said. "I firmly believe if we as 'adults' make the right decisions, believe in ourselves, have faith and live by the Core Values of the Air Force we will achieve success in our personal lives as well as in the Air Force."

This article is the fifth in a series of articles based on getting to know the first sergeant...