Senior Master Sgt. Hall Stands Out Amongst the Rest

Each year the Air National Guard honors four deserving Airmen with the title of Outstanding Airman of the Year. The winners for 2023 were announced on March 19th, and the 145th Airlift Wing's, Senior Master Sgt. Tony Hall, was selected as the Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year winner.

To be considered for this award, you must be nominated; to do that, you must go above and beyond.

Hall is the Superintendent of the 118th Air Support Operations Squadron (118 ASOS), and in addition to his primary duties peruses professional development courses, is a member of the Senior Enlisted Council, assists with the Junior Enlisted Council, a supports the base’s mentorship program.

Hall has facilitated eight mission changes to tactics, techniques, and procedures by training 60 special warfare operators and support personnel in reconnaissance and strike operations. He also crated 22 mission transformation and occupational change plans, standardizing training across six units: significantly advancing combat effectiveness for the Tactical Air Control Party within the Agile Combat Employment operations.

“We work four-by-ten (4 days/10 hours) shifts,” said Hall. “Monday is admin (administrative work) day, Tuesday is sync and sim (training simulator), Wednesday is medical and environmental training, and Thursday we go to the range,” explained Hall. “When I’m not being pulled in different directions, this is 30 to 40 percent of my work week.”
Despite such a demanding work schedule, Hall still finds time to serve others.
He provides guidance and leadership to over 400 youths across three counties as an instructor for the North Carolina Youth Leadership Organization. Hall is also volunteering his time to the Mecklenburg County Scouts organization as he instructs over 28 scouts on how safe climbing techniques. He is also a lead rifle instructor for the Hickory NC Youth Organization, training 74 youths in safe and effective marksmanship. All of this and he still found time to complete an Organizational Leadership master’s program with a 3.6 grade point average.
As the second in command to the squadron chief, Hall manages himself, other Airmen, and the unit programs; no wonder he’s able to manage life despite such a hectic professional and volunteering schedule.
“He does a great job with everything he does,” said Chief Master Sgt. Jeremy S. Mullins, 118 ASOS senior enlisted leader in reference to Hall. “Senior Master Sergeant Hall is a rock star,” he went on about Hall. “He shows what it means to pursue the Air Force foundational competencies of developing self, developing others, developing organizations and developing ideas. His continual pursuit of growth is contagious, and it brings a new level of excellence to our unit. I would be doing him a disservice if I hadn’t nominated him for this award.”
Unbeknownst to Hall, his servant leadership, hard work and dedication to his troops did not go unnoticed.
Yet to him, it is just part of doing his job.
“Our job as leaders is to provide troops with development opportunities,” expressed Hall. “The cool thing about my job is it puts me in a position to lead people. I didn’t think I would be in such a position, so I didn’t put much value in it at first; but being able to lead people is a humbling thing, a servant thing.”