THULE AIR BASE, Greenland -- U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Stephen Armstrong Jr., 821st Security Forces Squadron standardization and evaluation noncommissioned officer in charge, has been stationed at Thule Air Base in Greenland for just two months, and is already being recognized for exceptional character and commitment as Space Base Delta 1’s August 2022 Outstanding Performer of the Month.
The 821st SFS is the ground-combat force and military police service assigned to Thule AB to support members of the USAF and the U.S. Space Force.
Thule AB supports three mission sets: tactical warning of potential ballistic missile attacks against the U.S. and Canada, providing space situational awareness by tracking manmade objects in orbit, and satellite command and control.
Armstrong was raised in southwest Georgia, not far from the Florida-Georgia line. He later moved to be with his father, who was serving in the U.S. Navy at Naval Support Activity Mid-South, Tennessee — just north of “The Home of the Blues,” Memphis. There, he completed high school and worked at a youth and teen center on the NSA Mid-South.
“It was a really eye-opening job,” said Armstrong. “I started working there the summer before my junior year of high school until I joined the Air Force.”
While only stationed at SBD 1’s Greenland installation since early June, Thule AB is Armstrong’s fourth base; the Defender has served for well over a decade. Armstrong was first stationed at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. Vance AFB is specifically located in the “Wheat Capital of the United States,” Garfield County’s seat, Enid.
“Vance Air Force Base forced me to mature; spending almost all of my 20s there, it made me grow up,” said Armstrong. “Once I left there, I took my talents built at Vance to Osan Air Base in South Korea, which was really awesome.”
Armstrong admits his experience at Osan AB helped him rebloom and reinvest as an Airman, and recognize that he really loved serving. After Osan, Armstrong was stationed at Kleine Brogel Air Base, Belgium, before being assigned to Thule. During his 12 years in the USAF, he has had the opportunity to visit 23 different countries.
“Tech. Sgt. Armstrong heads the security forces standardizations and evaluations section and is also a part of the Wing Inspection Team, where he is charged with evaluating the unit's compliance with Air and Space regulations, both locally and higher headquarters,” said USAF Senior Master Sgt. Brandy Collins, 821st SFS senior enlisted leader.
Armstrong is a leader amongst his peers and showcases all levels of leadership on a daily basis.
“I appreciate his outstanding attitude about life and how it wears off on the rest of the Airmen in our unit,” added Collins.
As the NCOIC of standards and evaluations, Armstrong enables SBD 1’s mission by ensuring all security forces members stationed at Thule AB are properly certified to run security operations for the personnel and assets located there. He also ensures proper self-assessments of programs throughout the unit and base are being conducted. These self-assessments identify shortfalls in programs that would lead to failure if not identified.
“Tech. Sgt. Armstrong is committed to enhancing all of our programs and has a dedication to see the Airmen in our unit succeed both personally and professionally,” said USAF Tech. Sgt. Logan Ackerman, 821st SFS security force training NCOIC. “He's a leader and a mentor at every opportunity. He is undoubtably one of the best NCOs I've been afforded the chance to work with and he constantly inspires me to become better.”
"What we do in life echoes in eternity,” is a quote that continues to inspire and motivate Armstrong.
“It's important to me because I believe in always keeping my name in good grace,” said Armstrong. “When you do the right thing, and always put your best foot forward, you leave behind a stellar reputation.”