Eagle Wing maintainer earns top NCOA award

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace
  • 436th AW Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  A 436th Maintenance Operations Squadron technical sergeant earned top graduate honors and was awarded the John L. Levitow Award at the Robert D. Gaylor NCO Academy, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, April 1.

Tech. Sgt. Leslie Barnes was presented a 1.5-foot tall eagle statue and lauded as the top graduate of class 09-3, where she surpassed nearly 150 classmates and earned the top award existing in any enlisted professional military education.

According to Sergeant Barnes, the award was a result of hard work and studying.

"When I wasn't at school, I don't even think I left my room aside from chow hall runs and study sessions for the first three weeks," Sergeant Barnes said. "In addition, I helped tutor many people, in both my flight and my class. In my opinion, tutoring individuals and guiding the group study sessions helped me learn the material that much better."

When called to the stage as the Levitow winner during the graduation dinner, Sergeant Barnes was completely surprised. However, with the prompting of her eight fellow Dover classmates and Chief Master Sgt. John Wood, 436th Airlift Wing command chief, she quickly recognized her ears were not playing tricks on her and she was, in fact, the winner.

"I couldn't hear my name being called through all the screaming and yelling from our [the Dover] table," Sergeant Barnes said. "Half of the walk to the stage I kept thinking I was going to get called back and that it had been either a mistake or one heck of an April Fool's prank."

However, Sergeant Barnes soon found herself on stage accepting the award. Later, she shared her own message, one she felt all future NCOs could benefit from.

"As a leader, my advice to up-and-coming Airmen is to not forget their roots as they progress through rank and position," said Sergeant Barnes.

"It is too easy for folks to forget where they came from, and this can lead to disconnect between what you think your people need and what they actually need," she said. "Communication really is the key to everything. No one is an island in the Air Force. Without communication, there can be no cooperation and that can prevent mission accomplishment."

Communication is vital but not the only key to success. During a session of commandant's time, the retired fifth Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Robert Gaylor addressed class 09-3. During his hour, Chief Gaylor told a story about pride.

"After a long afternoon of yard work ensuring each, and every nook and cranny of the yard was pristine, my neighbor called over to me and said, 'Hey Robert, why do we do this?'" said Chief Gaylor.

Describing how he leaned on his broom handle and rested a moment, the chief said his reply was simple. His name was on the mailbox.

For Chief Gaylor, the notion is straightforward and should be contagious to all who listen. Airmen work tirelessly because they have pride in their base, pride in their unit and pride in themselves - their name is on the mailbox.

With 12 bases and countless units sending NCOs to the Robert D. Gaylor NCOA, and with class sizes upwards of 200 students, there is stiff competition for awards. Still, Sergeant Barnes rose above the rest and put the Eagle Wing smack in the middle of the spotlight.

Why did Sergeant Barnes take the extra effort? Her reply was familiar and simple: "My name was on the mail box."