Rising to the top: Airmen, NCO organization builds leaders

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Sarah Brown
  • 9 RW/PA
Beale's Rising 6 organization is becoming a well known force around the base, supporting events like the Annual Awards Dinner and holding Airman Professional Military Education boot camps.

"The Rising 6 organization is dedicated to providing the framework to help build our future leaders here at Beale through the promotion of professional and personal growth, continued education, and base/community involvement," said Staff Sgt. Glenn Davis, Rising 6 council member.

Beale has had a Rising 6 organization for about seven years, but had almost died out several years ago due to deployments and lack of leadership. It was revamped by then-president Tech. Sgt. Leray Smedley, and current president Tech. Sgt. Jewell Hicks, has kept up the organization's momentum.

"The big thing for me is making a difference. The Rising 6 is an opportunity to build leaders, not only on the professional side, but on the community side as well," said Sergeant Hicks. "It's an opportunity to affect a lot of people, work with a lot of different people and it's a learning opportunity. I've learned so much in a short time."

Under the current Rising 6 leadership, the organization has started several new programs including a Rising 6 PME bootcamp and a running club. They area also planning a membership drive in March, which will be held at the Forgotten Warrior Museum, right outside the front gate. The organization also participates in community outreach activities such as volunteering at local homeless shelters and Airmen for Children fundraiser events.

"We are dedicated to serving Airmen on Beale Air Force Base, and the local community, and to developing tomorrow's leaders," said Hicks. "Not only do we provide, as a professional organization, a place to be heard, but it gives us a common interest and an avenue to institute change. What is our legacy going to be?"

The organization is open to everyone by virtue of rank, to enlisted members E-1 through E-6; Beale members in those ranks are encouraged to attend one of the monthly Rising 6 meetings which are held at noon on the second Wednesday of the month at the Flag Room in the Contrails Inn Dining Facility. The next meeting is scheduled for Feb. 8, 2012.

"The Rising 6 organization is important because it enhances the prestige, responsibility and professional development of all mid-level NCOs and Airmen by encouraging an attitude of unified purpose," said Davis. "You can never stop growing as an individual, whether it is in your career or your personal development; and that's what we want to do, challenge our Airmen to grow."