Airman pins on SSgt in hospital

by Airman 1st Class Betty R. Chevalier
355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

2/12/2014 - DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -  -- Military members usually have their days planned out, even months in advance. When we leave work at the end of the day, we know what we will be doing tomorrow and have a rough draft of how the day will go, but sometimes life happens and our plans change.

Staff Sgt. Andrea Pabon, 25th Operational Weather Squadron knowledge operations manager, was scheduled to be at the non-commissioned officer induction ceremony January 31. She was scheduled to pin-on the rank of staff sergeant, but ended up giving birth to her daughter, Arizona, that morning.

Pabon attended the rehearsal for the ceremony on January 30, which happened to be her birthday. During the rehearsal, Pabon started having mild contractions.

Pabon said participants in the rehersal joked about her giving birth on her birthday or during the ceremony.

Pabon and her husband went to the hospital for her severe contractions around midnight. The hospital examined her and sent her home around 3 a.m. telling her to come back if things got worse. Two hours later, they arrived back at the hospital. After another examination they rushed her to the delivery room, where she gave birth at 6:15 a.m. Pabon's due date was not until February 27.

"She was supposed to pin on January 31," said Chief Master Sgt. Peter Buzynski, 25th OWS chief enlisted manager. "She called me at 7 o'clock in the morning and said 'Hey Chief, I'm not going to be able to make my pin-on ceremony. I had my baby a few minutes ago.'"

Since she missed her first pin-on ceremony, Lt. Col. Michael Marsicek, 25th OWS commander, Master Sgt. Nathan Rice, 25th OWS first sergeant, and Buzynski, surprised her at the hospital and pinned stripes on her and presented her with her promotion certificate.

Pabon and her husband said they are glad she has very good, supportive leadership. Although her daughter was born weeks earlier than expected, her family and her leadership were able to adjust e and continue to support her.