97th AMW celebrates newly inducted NCOs Published Jan. 17, 2025 By Airman 1st Class Jonah Bliss 97th Air Mobility Wing Public ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The 97th Air Mobility Wing celebrated a significant milestone by hosting its first ever noncommissioned officer induction ceremony at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, Jan. 16, 2025. The event marked the transition of selected Senior Airmen into the rank of Staff Sgt. - the first echelon of the NCO tier - acknowledging their dedication to the Air Force and their leadership. Staff Sgt. Jeremy Scott, a new NCO inducted at the event, expressed what this accomplishment meant to him. “This means the entire world to me,” he said. “This was my last chance to become an NCO. This accomplishment separates me from who I was and pushes me to become someone better.” Tech. Sgt. Samantha Hunt, 54th Air Refueling Squadron standards and evaluations flight chief and NCO induction ceremony event organizer stated the significance of the event. "This is a major accomplishment for the new NCOs, and we want to celebrate it accordingly," Hunt said. "This is the first event of its kind on Altus Air Force Base, and we want to highlight and celebrate these amazing Airmen." The newly inducted NCOs who attended the event were: Staff Sgt. Brooke Belmonte-Griffin Senior Airman Jack Brown Senior Airman Derrick Blake Senior Airman Jesse Hancock Staff Sgt. Devin King Senior Airman Tyler Mantoni Staff Sgt. Avion Mickens Senior Airman Tessah Moak Senior Airman Michele Perrone Senior Airman Michael Backenstoes Senior Airman Nina Quintana Senior Airman Michael Swezey Senior Airman Ashton Jolly Senior Airman Jeremy Scott The ceremony not only honored the achievements of these Airmen but also reinforced the importance of leadership and service within the military community. To see more photos from the event, visit: