317th AS first sergeant becomes command chief

Published April 12, 2006
By Tech. Sgt. Mary Hinson
315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

CHARLESTON AFB, S.C. -- “I’m proud to be enlisted,” said Senior Master Sgt. Ben Futrell, the incoming 315th Airlift Wing command chief master sergeant. “I’ve been mentored by a lot of great enlisted leaders, and I would like to pass on some of those thoughts and philosophies to the next generation.”

As the wing commander’s advisor on enlisted issues, Sergeant Futrell will be the top representative in the 315th AW for the Reserve enlisted force of which he is so proud.

“He has a firm resolve to support our Air Force and country,” said Chief Master Sgt. Michael Petersen, current 315th AW command chief master sergeant, about the new enlisted leader. “Senior Master Sgt. Futrell is a profile of those who ‘have it together."

Sergeant Futrell began his Reserve career August 1981, following four and a half years active duty as a navigation systems specialist. Upon hearing there was an Air Reserve Technician position available, he left active duty and took the job in the maintenance arena.

After four years as an ART, the North Carolina native took a civilian position with the 437th AW and cross-trained to be a flight engineer for the C-141s.

“I always wanted to fly,” said Sergeant Futrell, who currently works as a civilian avionics technician for the 437th.

With the C-141s leaving, Sergeant Futrell once again took a position in maintenance and remained there until there was an opening for the first sergeant of the 317th Airlift Squadron. Sergeant Futrell became the first and only first sergeant for the squadron until he was chosen for this new position.

Although Sergeant Futrell said he originally joined the Air Force to travel, it is the people that have made the sergeant stick around as long as he has.

“I feel very fortunate to have been able to be in the U.S. Air Force,” he said. “Friends I’ve made, associations, have lasted for basically 20 or 30 years.”

Throughout his career, Sergeant Futrell has learned a lot about leadership, what traits he would like to emulate and those he wishes never to possess.

“I’ve learned a lot from heroes and crooks,” he said. “The best supervisors were the ones that were very consistent and communicated well. You always knew where they would stand on everything, and they were very grounded in their values.”

It is some of these same values others see in Sergeant Futrell.

“The airmen trust him…(he) has identified governing values that are built on respect, honest, integrity,” said Chief Petersen.

Sergeant Futrell was chosen by a panel of chiefs and first sergeants, with Col. Gary Cook, 315th AW commander making the final decision. He will be promoted to chief master sergeant and assume his new position May 1.