Photo By Tech. Sgt. Darby Arnold | U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Alejandra Rosales, assigned to the 147th Combat...... read more read more
Senior Master Sgt. Alejandra Rosales, an operations superintendent from the 147th Combat Communications Squadron, San Diego Air National Guard Station, California, attached to the 195th Wing, California Air National Guard, was selected as the Air National Guard’s 2024 Outstanding Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year.
Rosales immense achievement was reached through her steadfast performance and support of not only the U.S. Air Force mission but the State of California.
moving to California from Mexico when she was four years-old she now has 19 combined years of Guard, Reserve and active-duty service to her state and nation. Earning her U.S. Citizenship and bachelors degree along the way.
Her Air Force journey began in 2005 as an aerospace medical technician followed by time in the Air Force Reserves. In 2015 she made the transition to the Air National Guard and Combat Communications.
Exemplified by adaptability and performance, her exceptional leadership was evident while being deployed as an communications project manager for Combined Joint Task Force, Horn of Africa in 2023.
“My primary mission was to serve as the senior enlisted leader within the J6 Communications Directorate, J63 Small Node Support Branch taking on the challenge of overseeing nineteen Soldiers and three Airmen and multiple communications packages that needed to be forward deployed to locations across AFRICOM, providing overall communications support for the joint task force,” said Rosales.
Rosales was able make direct impacts on real-world missions contributing mission-critical support to forward staging base Bahir Dar, Ethiopia during Operation OAKEN SOUNDSTAGE.
enabling the successful evacuation of eighty-seven US Embassy personnel from Khartoum with three MH-47 helicopters and one hundred U.S. troops, including Navy SEAL Team Six and the Army’s 3rd Special Forces Group, following the outbreak of conflict in Sudan.
Participating in real-world operations required her to fully engage in a joint mindset and embrace collaboration.
“As a communications planner, I had to collaborate with other directorates comprised of sister branches to understand their mission requirements in order to provide the correct mission-critical equipment and personnel for requirements,” said Rosales. “It was crucial for mission success to learn as much as possible about our sister branches and their roles.”
Reflecting on her time in Africa, she believes she was able to effect the mission priorities and joint team positively.
“I believe I had a positive impact on the Soldiers, I made sure to really learn about them and help guide them in the right direction. Earning their trust was my main mission as their SEL as they needed to trust me to ensure we’d all be successful,” said Rosales. “I made it my point to instill the brother/sisterhood mentality, to take care of one another and foster an environment of learning and development.”
Although her deployment to Africa was a keystone of her being recognized as Outstanding SNCO of the Year, it is all facets of who she is as a guardsman and individual that shined through and she is grateful for the recognition.
“I can’t express the gratitude and joy that filled my heart when I was told I was selected, but more so because I knew how proud and happy my parents would be. I owe it to all their support, love, values and always pushing me to work as hard as I can, no matter the circumstances,” said Rosales.
| Date Taken: | 06.12.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 06.13.2024 10:07 |
| Story ID: | 473785 |
| Location: | BEALE AIR FORCE BASE , CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 224 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 195th Wing member earns ANG Outstanding SNCO of the Year, by SMSgt Jeffrey Schultze, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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