Know Your Shirt: 36th MSS, 36th SVS first sergeant leads with sincerity

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Miranda Moorer
  • 36 Wing/Public Affairs
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam --  Credible, perceptive, the epitome of integrity, competent, energetic, motivational, communicates effectively, and exemplifies the core values of the United States Air Force. 

These are just some of the character traits and responsibilities of a first sergeant as outlined in Air Force Instruction 36-2113. For Master Sgt. Morris Miller, first sergeant of the 36th Mission Support Squadron and the 36th Services Squadron, these are qualities he believes every Airman should embody. 

"We should care about the people around us whether we're wearing a diamond or not," he said. 

Sergeant Miller believes it is important sergeants and leaders of all ranks take the time to remember how it felt to be young Airmen. 

"I wonder if Airmen are still as receptive to the behavior of the NCOs around them?" he said. "Airmen are like a sponge; they take in everything we do and say around them." 

He also said how Sergeants act inside and outside the workplace can directly affect the attitudes and behavior of their subordinates.

"When I was an Airman I remember being able to quickly recognize those sergeants who genuinely cared about us and those who didn't." 

This memory is why Sergeant Miller hopes the Airmen around him know he is sincere about his interest in their lives and careers. He believes it is important to meet with newcomers one on one, and he makes it a point to talk to Airmen at their work centers, roll calls, First Term Airman Center and Airman Leadership School. 

From first stepping in as acting first sergeant for more than 1,000 Airmen of the 48th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Lakenheath AFB, England, from July 2006 to February 2007, Sergeant Miller later went on to attend the First Sergeant Academy graduating in March 2007. Andersen is his first assignment as a diamond-wearing first sergeant. Prior to his current position, he was an aircraft armament systems specialist, which means he loaded weapons on aircraft.

Sergeant Miller's goals as a first sergeant are to "make a good difference in someone's life every day, to help Airmen understand that we are in the military, we are professionals, and to remain on top we must live and breathe as such. We must understand our mission and why it is important, take care of our Airmen and their families, educate ourselves on a daily basis, see the world, and enjoy what we do."

"Throughout my career, I've had great supervisors who've really helped me to succeed and took time in doing so. I want to give something back and guide Airmen in becoming better leaders and followers; I feel they deserve it."