First sergeant leads from front, earns honors

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Mike Meares
  • 96th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  After a barrage of more than 200 mortar and rocket attacks over a 142-day period earlier last year, the 9th Air Force first sergeant of the year is back in Iraq leading a command and control unit.

His actions at home and abroad have earned Senior Master Sgt. Scott Delveau the 9th AF 2006 Outstanding Performer of the Year as a first sergeant recently. He is the first sergeant for the 728th Air Control Squadron at Eglin currently deployed as part of the 727th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron in Iraq.

Sergeant Delveau became a first sergeant more than seven years ago. He spent the first part of his more than 20-year career in Special Forces as a Tactical Air Control Party, or a "Snake Eater." He was assigned to Army combat maneuver units around the world. On a battlefield, his two-Airmen tactical air control party team plans, requests and directs air strikes against enemy targets in close proximity to friendly forces. A TACP generally works in an Army ground unit directing close air support firepower toward enemy targets on the ground.

Through the experiences from his early career, he is a seasoned veteran to austere environments. Despite his background, he believes his approach as a first sergeant isn't any different from his peers.

"We take care of our people," the first sergeant said. "Other than a lot of deployed time, I don't think I've done anything different than any other first sergeant to deserve the award."

His commander would beg to differ.

"He is my right hand man," said Lt. Col. Frederick Defranza, 727th EACS commander. "He is by far the best first sergeant I've ever seen -- in measurable items, not just an overarching statement."

He's a people person who's approachable and genuinely cares, the lieutenant colonel said. He arranged more than 70 college level course tests for deployed Airmen, and set up a noncommissioned officer professional development course for 45 Airmen at Balad Air Base, Iraq. He led the construction of more than 300 bunkbeds for deployed personnel, and boosted morale by organizing birthday parties and cookouts. While deployed earlier this past year, he designed and painted the unit mural, a 14-feet by 25-feet legacy wall.

"Sergeant Delveau has the heartbeat of the squadron," the lieutenant colonel said.

The 728th Air Control Squadron, part of the 33rd Fighter Wing, renamed the 727th EACS while deployed to Balad Air Base, Iraq, is a "cohesive unit" that deploys together anywhere in the world.

"We don't deal with the same amount of discipline issues because we work (and deploy) as a unit," Sergeant Delveau said. "It's speculative on my part, but it's because we work well together."

Sergeant Delveau works side-by-side with Airmen in a large squadron from 27 career fields. From command and control and security forces to medics and services specialists -- the 727th EACS is a self-sustaining unit. The unit deploys, sets up, tracks and controls airspace. In Iraq, they track more than 277,000 square miles of airspace.

"Our focus is to come over here (Iraq) and do what we do best," he said.

The hot desert days can be a little chilly for the unit while watching the Iraqi skies. The heart of their operations lies in several mobile operation modules, or conex-shaped trailers stuffed with an array of computers and communication equipment that's chilled to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Inside, enlisted surveillance and weapons directors and air weapons officers chatter away in a language foreign to the untrained ear. They are directing roughly 40 aircraft at any given moment to multiple headings, altitudes and locations with the eventual goal of providing air support to ground forces.

Success inside the cooler hinges on the hard work of the miniature Air Force that operates within the unit's compound. Sergeant Delveau understands that the health and morale of the unit hinges on leadership from the front.

"Whether it's training in the field, doing (physical training) or deploying with them in combat, my place is with them," he said. "I certainly don't expect them to do things that I'm not willing to do myself."