Laughlin airman takes STEP forward

by Senior Airman John D. Partlow
47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs

8/5/2013 - LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Newly promoted Tech. Sgt. Joel Eschenbacher, was rewarded through the Air Force's Stripes for Exceptional Performers program here July 31, 2013.

Eschenbacher, a manpower and organizational analysis technician in the 47th Force Support Squadron, received the STEP promotion to technical sergeant due to various money- and time-saving, Air Force-wide ideas and hard work.

"He is consistently increasing his expertise and continues to grow as an airman," said Master Sgt. Jason Concepcion, 47th FSS manpower and organization NCO in charge and Eschenbacher's supervisor. "He'll make a great tech. sergeant, and he's been on the right path to become one since the beginning."

While a staff sergeant, Eschenbacher resolved an Air Force Personnel Center database error by identifying a flaw and correcting the formula while informing the agency, preventing an omission of more than 150K deployment records. He also developed an innovative manpower database that synchronized three distinct personnel reports, slashing 600 man-hours. The new database was named an AF Best Practice.

"I absolutely love my job," said Eschenbacher. "I'm able to change or affect careers in the Air Force with my current position, and I love having that responsibility. Whether it's base-level or Air Force-level decisions, it's still a big role to fill."

Eschenbacher's large role included validating wing deployments and scrutinizing and processing more than 200 taskings while verifying their accuracy. These meticulous efforts allowed for five combatant commands to be armed with mission-ready airmen.

"I treat every report, email, project or anything I create like it's going to the desk of a 4-star general," said Eschenbacher. "A big lesson I've learned is that people tend to respond more often when you present ideas in the most respectful manner possible."

Now that he has acquired his new rank, Eschenbacher is looking to take the next step forward.

"As a staff sergeant, I tried performing at a technical sergeant level to better prepare myself for a promotion," he said. "Now that I have the rank I've been preparing for, it's time to look forward to the future."