GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Three of Grissom's newest master sergeants were recently inducted into the ranks of senior noncommissioned officers during a special ceremony held here during the November unit training assembly.

During the ceremony, Master Sgts. Rodney Waikel, Charles Drane and John E. Bitzel, Jr., were recognized as being part of the top three enlisted ranks in the Air Force. The master sergeants recited a SNCO pledge and were presented with certificates of promotion by Col. William T. "Tim" Cahoon, 434th Air Refueling Wing commander.

Sergeant Waikel is a pneudraulic systems supervisor with the 434th Maintenance Squadron; Sergeant Drane is a KC-135R Stratotanker crew chief with the 434t Aircraft Maintenance Squadron; and Sergeant Bitzel is a combat crew communications specialist with the 434th Operations Support Squadron.

The 434th ARW is the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command.

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