Mentorship, volunteering: Top 3’s roadmap for success

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Heather Skinkle
  • 419th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah --  The 419th Fighter Wing's Top 3 council strives to keep a friendly, flexible atmosphere. Senior Master Sgt. Mark Howell, avionics flight chief in the 419th Maintenance Squadron and Top 3 president, hopes a team-like approach will increase the effectiveness of the council's mentoring and volunteering goals.

"During council meetings, we form that camaraderie that helps develop our senior enlisted core," Howell said. "We try and involve members in community service and encourage them to mentor each other."

The Top 3 is an Air Force-wide council that works to improve senior enlisted Airmen through training and volunteering. The wing's Top 3 has about 40 members, with more than 500 years of military experience among them.

"In the Top 3 we have a great opportunity to learn from other senior level enlisted," said Senior Master Sgt. Rulon Walker, Top 3 vice president and member of the 419th Logistics Readiness Squadron. "We all discuss wing- and squadron-level issues because it is important to have communication between squadrons. Together we find solutions to problems we wouldn't see alone."

The Top 3 also aims to be available for junior level enlisted personnel.

"We hope to be like first sergeants, so that if anyone has a unit or wing issue, they can bring it to us," Walker said.

Top 3 Airmen are also leading the way in supporting their community. Council members have been on the lookout for opportunities to get reservists excited about volunteering.

"In the past we've adopted a highway to clean up litter, helped with a shelter for abused children, and worked the base movie theater," Howell said. "Right now, we're still searching for a cause to become more actively involved in."

"The Air Force Reserve wants us to be helpful community members," Walker said. "Volunteerism improves our service members' well-being and builds a better community."

The Top 3 recently hosted its first annual golf tournament fundraiser that gathered wing members, active duty personnel, and retirees together. The council raised about $600 for the wing's upcoming Family Day event.