375th LRS sergeant receives STEP promotion

Published Jan. 3, 2013
By Senior Master Sgt. Stuart Camp
375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Getting called in from convalescent leave, Dec. 19, 2012, was well worth the trip for a 375th Logistics Readiness Squadron sergeant - she got promoted.

Tech. Sgt. Alison Caldieraro, NCO in charge of outbound freight section of Traffic Management Office, was promoted by the 375th Air Mobility Wing commander under the Stripes for Exceptional Performers program.

"I'm incredibly grateful for everyone involved - supervisors, commander - it really means a lot," said the Grafton, Ill., native from a town about 55 miles northwest of Scott.

Caldieraro was called in to sign an enlisted performance report for a departing troop and also asked stick around for a pre-operational readiness exercise meeting. She sat in civilian clothes alongside ABU-clad colleagues when Col. David Almand, 375th AMW commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Marty Anderson, 375th AMW command chief, walked into the passenger terminal conference room.

Senior Master Sgt. Edward Atchley, 375th LRS superintendent, was tipped off that his meeting might serve as grounds to promote Caldieraro.

"I was stoked," he said. "She had no idea."

The colonel said he noticed that Caldieraro was out of uniform and called her out.

"Then Chief Anderson pulled out the stripes, and I knew," Caldieraro said. "I didn't know what to say. I was in shock more than anything. I was so surprised."

She missed getting promoted this last cycle by less than a point.

"I've been studying for this year," said the newly minted technical sergeant, who has been in the Air Force just under 10 years.

Caldieraro was the only STEP-promotee this year in the 375th AMW, although there were several nominations considered by wing leaders.

STEP promotions are explained in Air Force Instruction 36-2502 as a means for commanders to promote deserving, hard-charging Airmen for compelling, although not quantifiable, reasons.