The right kind of wrong: A uniform correction turns into a surprise promotion
U.S. Air Force Col. Leland Cowie II, 435th Air Ground Operations Wing commander, and U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Jared Roman, 435 AGOW command chief, surprise U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Carlton Vance, 435th Air Ground Operations Wing Financial Management resource advisor, with his promotion to technical sergeant through the Stripes for Exceptional Performers program Dec. 1, 2025, at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The STEP program allows a commander to select a limited number of Airmen for promotion based on merit to the grades of staff sergeant through master sergeant based on their exceptional performance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Amber R. Kelly-Herard)