Medical group Airman awarded STEP promotion

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kirsten Wicker
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  A medical group Airman was awarded a Stripes for Exceptional Performers promotion, making him the second at Tyndall this year to do so.

Master Sgt. Brian Yannarelli, 325th Medical Support Squadron NCO in charge of diagnostic imaging, was promoted from technical sergeant to master sergeant after his leadership team submitted him for the STEP program.

"I was in complete shock, I had no idea I would be receiving the promotion," Sergeant Yannarelli said. "I knew I had a STEP promotion recommendation on my EPR [enlisted performance report], but I didn't know my leadership team had submitted an award package for this process."

Sergeant Yannarelli has served in the Air Force for a little more than 13 years. He has been a technical sergeant for four years, and has tested for promotion to master sergeant three times. He is the NCO in charge of diagnostic imaging, but has recently been filling in as the 325th MDG first sergeant, while the current first sergeant is deployed.

"I was very close to making the rank this year and I had put a lot of time into it, but I didn't quite make it through the testing process," he said.

The STEP program awards the next higher rank to exceptionally performing Airmen who are staff sergeants or higher and who have tested for the next rank, but were not able to meet the cutoff in terms of points.

"My folks were pretty happy and my daughter was particularly excited," he said. "I have to thank her too. She's a great kid and for only six years old, she's a trooper... she has to get up early with me and she has long days too; she has to be flexible with my job also."

Sergeant Yannarelli has earned several awards, to include the 325th MDG NCO of the Year, 2011. He has been recognized as the NCO of the Quarter several times and was part of the team which earned the Air Education and Training Command Diagnostic Imaging and Lab Team of the Year, 2010.

"I was just honored the mention was included in my EPR, and that my leadership thought that highly of me," he said. "I'm fortunate to have great leadership here at the med group - they will bend over backwards for you, and they care about getting the mission done and getting it done right ... they are just great people.

"That's one of the main reasons why I got STEP promoted - you put the effort in, but if you don't have a good team and good people you can rely on, then you're not going to be as successful."

Sergeant Yannarelli has earned two associates degrees, one in electronic systems technology and another in diagnostic imaging technology. He also holds a certificate from the American Registry of Radiologic Technicians.

"Sergeant Yannarelli is a true superstar whose leadership has made a huge impact on our 325th MDG, patients, and Airmen," said Col. Paul Skala, 325th MDG commander. "A selfless NCO, Brian is truly deserving of this STEP promotion and I am convinced our Airmen will reap immediate dividends from his senior NCO leadership."

"It's a great feeling," Yannarelli said. "I can confidently say that I really worked hard the last couple years with things in the shop surrounding personnel and equipment, and then standing in as first sergeant, it has kept me busy.

"But I would not be here if I didn't have a good team. People make the difference - they really do."