Making waves: 341st MDG first sergeant attends Coast Guard PME course, learns ins, outs of sister service's core training

MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Who would have thought an honorary member of the U.S. Coast Guard would be a first sergeant at Malmstrom? 

In May, four Air Force master sergeants were presented the honorary rank of chief petty officer after attending the Chief Petty Officer Academy, or CPOA, in Petaluma, Calif. Malmstrom's very own, Master Sgt. Michael Ammons, 341st Medical Group first sergeant, was one of the four to receive such an honor. 

"I heard about the [Coast Guard Academy] about three years ago when I was stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.," Sergeant Ammons said. "Soon after I was promoted to master sergeant, my group chief came to me and we talked about SNCOA possibilities. He encouraged me to look into inter-service academies." 

Sergeant Ammons did some research, and said the Coast Guard "popped out" at him and piqued his interest. Being an Oregon-native, he learned a lot about the coast and the rivers while growing up, so it seemed like a natural fit to further his professional military education with the Coast Guard. 

"I wanted to go to the Coast Guard Academy to learn something different about a sister service's leadership concepts and their business," the 20-year Air Force veteran said. "You ask yourself, 'Who are they?' and you want to learn more. There's no better way of getting to know who you're in the fight with then to rub shoulders with them." 

He said that from day one, the Coast Guard focused on teamwork, and everything revolved around this concept, which is similar to the Air Force ethos about Wingmen.
Master Sgt. Denise Dedor, 55th Mission Support Squadron career assistance advisor from Offutt AFB, Neb., was Sergeant Ammons' classmate and fellow honorary chief petty officer. She said it takes a team to accomplish any mission, and servicemembers should have an understanding of the team's strengths and weaknesses in order to be effective. 

"The scope of responsibility the Coast Guard has is huge; their force is not. They rely on the talents and capabilities of everyone to make their mission happen," Sergeant Dedor said. "Often times they are living in close proximity to their fellow crew members for weeks or months at a time. The CPOA put great emphasis on understanding ways to work together and how to deal with issues so they effectively accomplish their mission." 

Sergeant Ammons agrees and said the Coast Guard depends so much on each other, much like the Air Force. 

"Some Airmen I've met as a first sergeant don't think what they're doing is important - they're in their own little bubble -- but every job is important to make sure the mission gets done," he said. "[The Coast Guard's] total force is 10 percent of the Air Force. They are much more close-knit and have been around 200 years. So being inducted as an honorary chief was very meaningful." 

The 341st MDG first sergeant was also presented the "Spirit of the Chief" award, equivalent in significance to Air Force's John Levitow award. 

"[Sergeant Ammons] was honored with this award not because he stood out as an individual, but because he brought our class together as a team," Sergeant Dedor said. "He quickly earned the respect of all his fellow classmates, and he didn't have to do this by changing who he was or what he believed in. He simply maintained a positive attitude, worked hard and represented the Air Force as a true professional." 

Sergeant Ammons did not start his career with the vision of attaining the rank of master sergeant, attending the CPOA or becoming a first sergeant. He joined the Air Force so he could get money for college and originally wanted to be a cop. However as fate had it, the Air Force chose the career field of audio/video production documentation for then Airman Ammons. 

"People now days refer to [audio/video production documentation] as Combat Camera," he said. "From March 1990 until February 2006, my job was to take pictures of fighters doing their thing. I think it's the best job a person can have in the Air force. Being an enlisted person who flies in the backseat of fighters ... I feel very fortunate to have had that opportunity." 

Sixteen years working with Combat Camera made Sergeant Ammons a seasoned photographer, and the proof is on the walls in his office. Every bit of space above his desk is full of crisp, vibrant images of war fighters in action. From the F-16 Fighting Falcon to the Air Force's newest arsenal, the F-22 Raptor, Sergeant Ammons appeared to have flown in them all. 

His first flight was in a T-38 Talon, which is a twin-engine, high-altitude, supersonic jet trainer. 

"It was a familiarization flight and I actually got sick," the first sergeant said. "But it was the only time I got sick. It was a good time." 

Sergeant Ammons' flying days are now over but he knew it was a good ride while it lasted. Deep down he knew he would need to do some further training and diversification in other areas of the Air Force if he was going to make a career out of his military service. 

"I always felt the Lord calling me to do something more with my life, especially as a Christian. I've always been about helping people," he said. "A couple years ago I started thinking about what'll help me develop my career because you can't stay in the military forever." 

So after some soul searching and discussion with his family, Sergeant Ammons decided to hit the books and attend college. He received his bachelor of art degree in theology from The Baptist College of Florida from Graceville, Fla., and is soaking up all he can in his current role as a first sergeant. 

"I have a couple years left in the Air Force and I feel God is calling me to be a pastor," Sergeant Ammons said. "Being a first sergeant is all about helping people and the training I'm getting now as a first sergeant is something I'll get to use as a pastor when I retire." 

"The Air Force has been nothing less than incredible. The experiences and training ... I would never trade them for the world. I put my 'shirt' duties first. My service to God is center of everything I do," he said.