Know your Shirt: 36th MXG first sergeant encourages Airmen to do their best
By Senior Airman Miranda Moorer, 36 Wing/Public Affairs
/ Published December 16, 2007
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- The 36th Maintenance Group's first sergeant has one piece of advice to share with his Airmen. It is: "do your best; take accountability for yourself; and be honest with yourself."
Senior Master Sgt. Paul Cornell said, "If you always do the best you can, you'll be successful both in and out of the Air Force."
Sergeant Cornell has been on Andersen since May 15. He is currently the first sergeant of both the 36th Munitions and 36th Maintenance Squadrons. He graduated from the First Sergeant Academy in October 2001 and spent his first assignment as a first sergeant in the services squadron at Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
He takes pride in helping young Airmen grow in their careers. And he said his reward comes in "seeing others succeed through motivation and effort. There's plenty of room at the top in this Air Force for Airmen who are motivated and responsible."
Although Sergeant Cornell takes on a hefty load by serving as a first sergeant over the entire 36th Maintenance Group, he makes time to help individuals who call on him.
"He's a really busy first sergeant because he's over two squadrons, but if I need him, he's only a phone call away," said Senior Airman Tammy Crocker, 36th Maintenance Squadron Aerospace Ground Equipment journeyman. "He's helpful; he's there; he's reliable; and he's helped me out with a couple of my own situations. If he didn't know an answer, he'd take the time to find the answer."
Sergeant Cornell said the hardest part about being a first sergeant is trying to motivate Airmen who really aren't in the game.
"Several of us are just punching the time clock every day and rushing home to get out of the uniform," he said.
He wants others to understand how important they are to the overall effort of our group, wing and Air Force. He encourages Airmen to commit themselves to service before self.
"He's really down to earth and very personable," said Tech. Sgt. Jodi Elliott, 36th Munitions Squadron, Conventional Maintenance Assistant NCOIC. "He's very knowledgeable, takes pride in his job, and is very easy to approach."
Sergeant Cornell said many of his memorable experiences happened during his deployments.
"Seeing how other people around the world live and how they are treated by their governments has given me a better understanding of the word freedom," he said.
He recalled a time at a market in Incirlik, Turkey.
"My supervisor had parked his car and a small boy came up and offered to watch it while we were gone," he said. "The toes were cut out of his shoes because he had outgrown them. So, I bought a cheap pair of tennis shoes at the market. I think they were about five bucks."
When they returned, Sergeant Cornell gave the shoes to the boy.
"You would have thought I'd rescued him from drowning," he said. "The kid thanked me until we drove away."
After that day, whenever Sergeant Cornell would go to the alley, the boy would find him and they would hang out together.
"Most people aren't as fortunate as us," he said. "I hope someone would do the same for my children if we were in that position."
Sergeant Cornell stays involved and supports several organizations. He supports the Top 3, attends Air Force Sergeants Association meetings, volunteers for Airman Against Drunk Driving and helped organize volunteers for the Guam Soap Box Derby which raised funds for Guam Big Brothers / Big Sisters. He hopes that through his involvement he can encourage others to volunteer their time as well.
Although the life of a first sergeant can get pretty hectic, Sergeant Cornell appreciates what the Air Force has done for him and his family.
"I'm coming to the end of what I consider to be a successful career, but I'll always look back on it with fond memories and appreciate what it has made me as a person," he said.