21 inducted into SNCO ranks at ceremony Published Nov. 12, 2010 By Airman 1st Class Chase Hedrick 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Twenty-one master sergeants and master sergeant selects were officially inducted into the ranks of SNCOs Nov. 8 at the Columbus Club. Friends and family came together to congratulate and celebrate with the inductees during a night of ceremony, food and advice. The inductees included Team BLAZE members from many parts of the wing, as well as 10 Air Force recruiters from 332nd and the 345th Recruiting Squadrons who were able to travel to Columbus Air Force Base. The event, sponsored by the Columbus Air Force Base Top 3, featured the Fifth Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Robert Gaylor as the night's guest speaker. Chief Gaylor spoke to the attendees about his times as a NCO, and some of the ideals and lessons he's learned in his 62 years associated with the Air Force. The advice Chief Gaylor had for senior non-commissioned officers is to focus on their responsibilities and to motivate and supervise those under their charge while avoiding the pitfalls of taking on more than they and their unit can handle. "I think that what gets people in trouble is when they lose their focus. They start doing things they weren't really hired to do and then things aren't getting done," warned Chief Gaylor. Earlier in the day Chief Gaylor spent an hour talking with the inductees and getting to know them. He said he believes the inductees realize that promotion isn't a reward for previous performance, but rather that it is demonstrated potential for increased responsibility. Chief Gaylor summed up his take on the newest SNCOs: "The promotion system works. We picked the right people."