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Wrapped with a bow STEP promotion received for Christmas

  • Published
  • By Capt. Brooke Brander
  • 33d Fighter Wing
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Dec. 25 has a new meaning for one 33d Fighter Wing noncommissioned officer.

Tech. Sgt. Mike Wisenbaker, 33d Maintenance Squadron, received master sergeant stripes Monday as a surprise Christmas present.

Col. Russ Handy, 33d Fighter Wing Commander, presented Sergeant Wisenbaker the stripes at his home in Crestview, Fla. surprising him and his entire family with the immediate promotion and making Christmas day his current date of rank.

"I'm excited and completely surprised," said Sergeant Wisenbaker, immediately following the promotion.

Colonel Handy was able to give Sergeant Wisenbaker the strips through the STEP promotion system, or Stripes for Exceptional Performers, which is an immediate promotion rank for an enlisted member and provides commanders an opportunity to recognize consistently strong performers.

"This is the biggest surprise I've ever had," said Becky Wisenbaker, Sergeant Wisenbaker's wife. "I am so excited!"

The entire Wisenbaker family watched as Sergeant Wisenbaker pulled the master sergeant stripes from a small Christmas gift bag presented by Colonel Handy.

"This is a good Christmas present," said Kathryn Wisenbaker, 10, and the oldest of Sergeant Wisenbaker's three children.

Immediately following the promotion, Mrs. Wisenbaker called family members to share the news of the promotion. At one point, Colonel Handy was put on the phone with Sergeant Wisenbaker's mother to confirm the news of the promotion was true.

The promotion arrived to the Wisenbaker home under the ruse of a Christmas carol. The sounds of "We Wish you a Merry Christmas," sung by several members of the 33d FW and 33d MXS leadership and their families, brought the Wisenbaker family to their front door. After the singing subsided Sergeant Wisenbaker was presented with his Christmas present from the wing.