WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Every Airman has their own personal motivations for joining the Air Force Reserve: a transition from active duty, fresh out of high school or just looking for something different. But once trained and integrated in their unit, those motivations can evolve into being recognized as a unit’s outstanding performer.
During the November unit training assembly the 445th Airlift Wing hosted the 4th Air Force commander, Maj. Gen. Jeffrey T. Pennington. While visiting the wing, he coined several individuals for their outstanding performance.
Two of those recipients are siblings. They expressed how humbled they felt being nominated by their units and reflected on their journey as naturalized citizen Airmen.
Tech. Sgt. Roselys Baugh, 445th Force Support Squadron NCO in charge of force management, is an Active Guard/Reserve Airman who emigrated from Venezuela with her family when she was 7 years old, and has made her mark at the 445th AW.
“I come here because I love to serve and I love my job. I have a passion for my office, manpower specifically,” said Baugh.
Which made getting coined for her hard work a sweet consolation.
“It’s nice to be recognized. Knowing that you really just love the job, it’s just like a cherry on top.”
Baugh’s work converting More than 300 Air Reserve Technician positions to AGR in the 445th AW and 655th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing, helped move the two wings into the manpower structure the Air Force Reserve is shifting to. Working since fiscal year 2019, Baugh was converting nearly 100 positions per year.
Baugh credits her desire to excel to her mother and to another 445th member, Staff Sgt. Melvin Castro, 445th Aerospace Medicine Squadron NCO in charge of immunization, a Traditional Reservist who also emigrated from Venezuela when he was six years old.
Working as a staff sergeant in a master sergeant position, Castro deals with all immunizations for every member, which effects deployments and readiness. With both COVID-19 and flu vaccines to be administered, Castro coordinated a plan with half of the normal manning, and administered the vaccines in an effective timeline of the mandate, ensuring members were vaccinated and educated to be as comfortable as possible.
“I appreciate my job and I like making the life of my fellow wingman a lot easier, so I try to work as hard as I possibly can to make their job go as smoothly as possible,” Castro said.
As sister and brother, Baugh and Castro both strive to make their mother proud and use the opportunity they’re been given to the fullest, but a little sibling rivalry doesn’t hurt.
“There’s always that competitive rivalry,” said Castro. “It all just really goes back to that ethos for us. It’s all about hard work and we’re going to pull ourselves up, whatever challenges present themselves, we’re going to overcome them, and I think us both being here at the 445th has helped us support each other so we do better.”