STEP
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Staff. Sgt. Wesley Hilbrich, 7th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, was promoted to technical sergeant Dec. 19 through the Stripes for Exceptional Performers program. Colonel Robert Gass (left), 7th Bomb Wing commander, and Command Chief Master Sgt. David Goldie (right) presented Sergeant Hilbrich (center) his new stripe. The Air Force Chief of Staff approves a very limited number (lesser of 422 stripes or 2 percent of projected WAPS promotions to grade E-5, E-6 and E-7) of allocations for a STEP promotion, according to the Military Professional Development Center. There are usually only two or three STEP allocations given to each wing per year, which commanders use to promote "exceptional" individuals to staff sergeant, technical sergeant, and master sergeant. (Courtesy photo)